Anti-Aging Breakthrough: Gene Therapy Reverses Aging in Mice

Reversing the Signs of Aging

Researchers at a biotech company have made a significant breakthrough in anti-aging research by using gene therapy to reverse aging in mice. The team delivered Yamanaka factors, which are known to reprogram cells to an embryonic-like state, into old mice.

Lifespan Studies and Genetic Origins

Follow-up lifespan studies in mice lacking the Il11 gene and mice treated with monthly anti-IL-11 antibodies showed that the gene therapy extended their healthy lifespans. However, the researchers caution that therapies that extend lifespan in models of accelerated aging may not always translate into positive results in humans.

The findings suggest that much of the variation in health-span and lifespan may be influenced by genetic factors.