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