Researchers at the University of Bonn and the University Hospital Bonn have successfully rejuvenated human blood cells by more than six decades in laboratory tests published in the journal Aging Cell.
The study, published in the journal Aging Cell, investigated blood samples from 15 donors ranging in age from newborns to 101 years old.
By introducing specific proteins, the researchers bypassed the conventional intermediate step of pluripotent stem cells. “We converted red blood cell precursors directly into neural stem cells using this method,” Brüstle said.
During this transformation, the cells lost many of their biological aging markers. Measurements using epigenetic clocks indicated that cells from an 80-year-old donor reached a molecular age corresponding to a person under 20 years old after roughly 50 days in culture. The work was carried out in cooperation with the RWTH Aachen.
The process of cellular reprogramming unfolded over a comparatively brief duration. Within 12 days, the biological material dismantled existing blood proteins and began forming neural proteins. Further experiments demonstrated that the rejuvenation occurred even when researchers slowed cellular multiplication using glycerol and thymidine. The experimental setup allowed the team to track the stepwise shift in aging traits across a timeframe exceeding 100 days.
Age remains a primary risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. “After all, age is the most important risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s,” Brüstle said.
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Rejuvenation of the human body is not yet possible through this method, and the experiments have been confined strictly to the laboratory setting. Decades-old mutations and structural damage accumulated within the genetic material remain intact despite the reset of epigenetic signatures.
Readers interested in therapeutic interventions or personal health concerns should consult qualified medical professionals for guidance, as laboratory research on cellular mechanisms does not currently translate into clinical therapies.