Scientists Reversed 60 Years of Cellular Aging. Can It Work in Humans?
German scientists have reversed 60 years of molecular aging in human blood cells, making them appear younger than 20 in a laboratory experiment.
The breakthrough occurred when researchers converted immature blood cells directly into neural stem cells, which can develop into brain cells. Using epigenetic clocks that track DNA changes associated with aging, they observed a remarkable reversal of more than 60 years of molecular aging.
Gradual Rejuvenation
Unlike earlier techniques that reset cellular age rapidly through an intermediate stem-cell stage, Bonn's method allowed scientists to observe rejuvenation gradually over more than 100 days.
In our approach, rejuvenation occurred gradually and could be tracked for over 100 days
Human Testing Begins
While the experiment hasn't established whether this process can safely treat diseases in people, the first human test is already underway. US regulators cleared Life Biosciences to test ER-100, an experimental treatment designed to rejuvenate damaged cells in the eye.
Three glaucoma patients tolerated the treatment through 56 days, with two showing preliminary improvements in vision tests. However, the findings remain limited to a small, uncontrolled safety trial.
Billion-Dollar Race
Investors are committing enormous sums to the possibility of reversing aging. Longevity biotech attracted a record $18.4 billion in 2025, compared with $4.7 billion in 2024. By mid-September 2026, another $12.1 billion had been invested.
Companies like NewLimit (which raised $435 million), Retro Biosciences ($1.8 billion valuation), and Altos Labs ($3 billion) are pursuing different approaches to age-related diseases, all facing the challenge of proving their treatments work safely in humans.
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