Loss of Stem Cells Correlates with Premature Aging in Animal Study, Penn Researchers Find

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that deleting the ATR gene in adult mice led to premature aging and loss of stem cell reservoirs, causing symptoms like hair graying, hair loss, and osteoporosis within 3-4 months. ATR is crucial for DNA damage response, and its absence resulted in overwhelming DNA damage in stem cells, preventing tissue renewal. The study suggested that premature aging syndromes and many cancers might involve the loss of DNA repair genes. The researchers are now using this mouse model to find compounds that preserve stem cells and potentially suppress aging.