In a Moonshots podcast interview, Harvard Medical School genetics professor David Sinclair discussed a once-unthinkable breakthrough — restoring youth to animal cells and tissues. He said human clinical trials are set to start soon.
In the discussion, the scientist noted that experiments on mice and green monkeys showed strong potential for substantially reversing aging.
“We’ve successfully reversed aging in mice and monkeys, and human trials will start next year,” Sinclair stated.
AI and Gene Therapy
He said AI and gene therapies drive this breakthrough, promising major gains in health and longevity. Sinclair aims to make these treatments widely available, calling them “a turning point in preventative and regenerative medicine.”
In his conversation with podcast host Peter Diamandis, Sinclair acknowledged that the concept of “reprogramming” adult cells to regain youthful traits was initially met with doubt. However, he and his team succeeded in selectively activating specific genes known as Yamanaka factors, effectively rejuvenating tissues.
Additionally, a 2020 study demonstrated that gene therapy could reactivate genes typically found only in embryos, enabling the treatment of conditions like blindness caused by optic nerve damage.
“This isn’t science fiction—we do this regularly in my lab,” Sinclair remarked.
Rejuvenation Results
Animals involved in the research showed clear reductions in biological age and significant physical recovery. In mice, just four weeks of treatment with a molecular cocktail produced signs of rejuvenation, while monkeys exhibited noticeable optic nerve regeneration.
“We can actually track optic nerve rejuvenation, and the data shows it aging in reverse.”
The team also discovered that aging is largely driven by changes in the epigenome, rather than just cellular deterioration:
“The epigenome is the real issue because aging stems from the loss of instructions that tell cells how to function,” Sinclair explained.
Their work demonstrated that these instructions could be restored—without cloning. “We found a safe way to reset the epigenome without needing to be reborn,” he said.
Following the animal studies, the team is preparing to move on to human trials. Sinclair stated that testing will begin next year, initially targeting individuals with eye conditions like glaucoma and ischemic optic neuropathy, as the eye is easily accessible and allows for clear measurement of outcomes.
Read the original article on: O globo
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