Scientists Reverse Cell Aging Slowly Without Making Them Stem Cells

Scientists at Germany's Bonn University have successfully de-aged blood cells from donors of various ages, including a 101-year-old, without turning them into pluripotent stem cells. Traditional methods create stem cells that carry the risk of forming tumors and are generally too unstable for anti-aging applications. By avoiding a fully pluripotent state, the team managed to steadily turn back the biological clocks of the cells over the course of less than two months. This gradual transformation allowed the researchers to track each individual step of de-aging, setting back certain biomarkers by as much as 60 years. Although the exact underlying mechanism remains unclear, the method provides a new way to study cellular rejuvenation and could eventually help clinical researchers evaluate potential treatments for age-related conditions.