This episode of VHHA's Patients Come First podcast features Dr. Wally Smith, a physician at VCU Health who specializes in treatment of Sickle Cell Disease. He joins us for a conversation about his path to medicine, his work, promising new gene therapy  treatments for the disease, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact us on X (Twitter) (twitter.com/VirginiaHHA) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/virginiahha/) using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.

VHHA Patients Come First Podcast - Dr. Wally Smith

Director/Producer/Artist/Music Brings Life Founder Keenan "Special" Bristol and Crossover Artist Giorgia Fumanti join us on this episode of The Jimmy Star Show with Ron Russell broadcast live from the W4CY studios on Wednesday, November 27th, 2024.

Keenan "Special" Bristol/ Giorgia Fumanti

BUFFALO, NY- December 11, 2024 – A new #research paper was #published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 16, Issue 21 on November 14, 2024, entitled, “Adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease exhibit accelerated aging with elevated T-cell p16INK4a expression.”

Researchers Samuel R. Wilson, Natalia Mitin, Vanessa L. Ayer Miller, Andrew B. Smitherman, and Marcus A. Carden, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,  Sapere Bio, Campbell University, and Cogent Biosciences have discovered that young people with sickle cell disease (SCD) exhibit signs of accelerated biological aging compared to those without the disease. By measuring levels of p16INK4a, a key marker of cellular aging, the team found significantly higher levels in individuals with SCD. Remarkably, some participants showed biological aging equivalent to an additional 43 years. These findings suggest that SCD may drive faster aging in the body, offering new insights into the disease's long-term impact.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic condition primarily affecting individuals of African or Mediterranean descent. While treatments have advanced, people with SCD often face significant health challenges, including complications that mimic the effects of aging.

Cellular aging, or senescence, occurs when cells stop dividing yet continue to send harmful signals that damage surrounding tissues. Researchers believe this process happens at an accelerated rate in people with SCD, underscoring the importance of finding ways to slow it down and mitigate its impact.

The study compared p16INK4a levels in 18 adolescents and young adults with SCD to 27 healthy people of the same age. The results showed that even the youngest participant with SCD had higher levels of this aging marker than anyone in the non-SCD group. 

“Our youngest participant, a 15-year-old with SCD, had a higher p16 expression than all the comparators, underscoring the early rise of p16 expression in this population.”

The researchers believe this faster aging could be caused by the chronic inflammation, lack of oxygen, and stress on the body associated with SCD. Along with managing the symptoms of the disease, SCD patients also face a higher risk of aging-related problems like organ damage and physical decline much earlier in life.

The findings suggest that measuring p16INK4a levels could help clinicians identify patients at risk for these problems earlier and offer targeted care. The study also opens the door to new treatments, such as drugs that aim to remove old, damaged cells. These therapies could potentially slow down the aging process.

Further research is essential to confirm these findings and to gain a deeper understanding of how to support SCD patients effectively. Larger, long-term studies could investigate whether therapies targeting cell aging can help prevent complications and improve the quality of life for individuals with SCD.

In conclusion, this study marks an important step in understanding how SCD accelerates aging and offers new ways to improve the lives of those living with the condition.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206152

Corresponding author - Samuel R. Wilson - samuel.wilson@med.unc.edu

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXVdxBikaqg

About Aging-US

The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population.

The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.)

Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​.

MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Aging (Aging-US)

Accelerated Aging in Young Sickle Cell Patients Linked to Elevated T-cell p16INK4a

Take a virtual coffee break with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment as we chat with Cheryl Stucky, PhD, Marvin Wagner Endowed Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, about the neural basis of Sickle Cell Disease pain and discuss recent advancements in pain management strategies.

Science Behind Sickle Cell Disease

Imagine being 15 years old but having a body that shows signs of aging as if you are decades older. For some young people with sickle cell disease (SCD), this is a reality. A new study published in Volume 16, Issue 21 of Aging shows that SCD causes the body to age much faster than normal. The research not only explains why this happens but also points to new ways to help people with the disease live healthier, longer lives.

What Is Sickle Cell Disease?

SCD is a genetic condition that changes the shape of red blood cells. Instead of being round, like a doughnut, the cells become curved like a sickle (a farming tool). These misshapen cells struggle to move through blood vessels, often blocking blood flow and leading to pain, organ damage, and other health problems. Even with modern treatments, they can experience complications like those seen in older adults, such as weaker bones, frailty, and organ failure. In the study “Adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease exhibit accelerated aging with elevated T-cell p16INK4a expression,” researchers wanted to understand why this happens and what it means for people with the disease.

Full blog - https://aging-us.org/?p=6372

Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206152

Corresponding author - Samuel R. Wilson - samuel.wilson@med.unc.edu

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXVdxBikaqg

Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - 
https://aging.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Faging.206152

Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts

Keywords - aging, sickle cell disease, p16, adolescents, young adults

About Aging-US

The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population.

The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.)

Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/
X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AgingJournal
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1X4HQQgegjReaf6Mozn6Mc

MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Accelerated Aging in Young People with Sickle Cell Disease

In this episode, Sheila Bates (http://hc4us.org/bod-sheila) is your host with guest Emilee Bargoma (https://bitesizebio.com/29714/phd-staying-positively-headstrong-determined), who holds a doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Master’s in Biology and Microbiology.  Emilee began her career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, contributing to the Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Program, before focusing on diseases disproportionately affecting individuals of African descent.

Her research includes published work on gene-editing mutations and acute vaso-occlusive crises in Sickle Cell Disease (https://www.cityofhope.org/clinical-program/sickle-cell-disease).  Emilee has also led a team that conducted preclinical safety evaluations of drugs, drug products, and medical devices in cellular models.  Currently, she is transitioning into the startup space, serving as Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of a biotechnology company.  Emilee is also the founder of a Black-owned, Black- and Brown-staffed science consulting firm dedicated to advancing equity and innovation in scientific research.


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Health Care for US (HC4US) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization of volunteers championing California single-payer health care. HC4US advocates for comprehensive, high-quality universal health care through single-payer public financing. Our goal is to guarantee health care as a human right for ALL California residents, advancing the larger fight for health care justice and energizing the implementation of national Single Payer/Medicare for All.

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Cancer and aging are two sides of age-related tumorigenesis.

The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population.

The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.)

Read about the Aging (Aging-US) Scientific Integrity Process: https://aging-us.com/scientific-integrity

Each month we’ll dig into the science behind a health topic making news today. Think of it as a virtual coffee break, with a science twist. You bring the coffee. We’ll bring a scientist. And together we’ll explore what science tells us about the health topics that matter to you!

Driven by a vision for a healthier Wisconsin, the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) reaches statewide, propelling the most promising work and ideas to build a healthier Wisconsin for generations to come.

New tracks tagged #SickleCellDisease