Clearance of senescent glial cells prevents tau-dependent pathology and cognitive decline

Cellular senescence, which is characterized by an irreversible cell-cycle arrest¹ accompanied by a distinctive secretory phenotype², can be induced through various intracellular and extracellular factors. Senescent cells that express the cell cycle inhibitory protein p16^INK4A have been found to actively drive naturally occurring age-related tissue deterioration^3,4 and contribute to several diseases associated with ageing, including atherosclerosis⁵ and osteoarthritis⁶. Various markers of senescence have been observed in patients with neurodegenerative diseases^7-9; however, a role for senescent cells in the aetiology of these pathologies is unknown. Here we show a causal link between the accumulation of senescent cells and cognition-associated neuronal loss. We found that the MAPT^P301SPS19 mouse model of tau-dependent neurodegenerative disease¹⁰ accumulates p16^INK4A-positive senescent astrocytes and microglia. Clearance of these cells as they arise using INK-ATTAC transgenic mice prevents gliosis, hyperphosphorylation of both soluble and insoluble tau leading to neurofibrillary tangle deposition, and degeneration of cortical and hippocampal neurons, thus preserving cognitive function. Pharmacological intervention with a first-generation senolytic modulates tau aggregation. Collectively, these results show that senescent cells have a role in the initiation and progression of tau-mediated disease, and suggest that targeting senescent cells may provide a therapeutic avenue for the treatment of these pathologies.