Artificial intelligence in cellular senescence research: a narrative review

Cellular senescence, an irreversible cell cycle arrest and a hallmark of aging, has garnered increasing attention as a potential therapeutic target. However, detecting senescent cells remains challenging due to their heterogeneous characteristics, which vary depending on cell type and the type of stressor. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have powered the accurate identification of senescent cells and the quantification of cellular senescence across various imaging systems. In this review, we offer a comprehensive overview of the current applications of artificial intelligence in cellular senescence research. We first describe cellular senescence from multiple perspectives, including its hallmarks, underlying mechanisms, and associated benefits and drawbacks. We then discuss the current state of artificial intelligence-driven cellular senescence research in detecting and scoring cellular senescence. Furthermore, we provide insights into its progress, challenges, and future directions.