“Natural rejuvenation”

Natural rejuvenation—reversing cellular damage—is one of the newest developments in longevity research. Scientists have learned to trigger it in the lab. For example, they’ve taken skin cells from 90-year-olds and restored them to youth in a petri dish. They’ve rejuvenated diseased mice, returning their gray hair to black and strengthening their muscles.

Scientists discovered that rejuvenation happens naturally at conception. At first, the fertilized egg inherits all of the DNA damage that the parents had accumulated over the years. But after two weeks, the embryo’s cells have reverted to a pristine condition. Researchers are attempting to mimic this process.

To do this they’re attempting to reset cells’ epigenetic markers—the tiny clusters of molecules that sit on our DNA and give it instructions about which genes to turn on and off. Over time, some of these epigenetic molecules go awry, such as by attaching where they shouldn’t or losing their tight connection to the DNA, making it harder for our cells to read their instructions. The rejuvenation process attempts to reset the epigenetic code and restore its function.

This past March, Life Biosciences, Inc., began the first safety trials to test rejuvenation therapy on 18 people with glaucoma. In these trials, they’re delivering “reprogramming factors” to reverse the disease. The results are not yet in.

In the meantime, at a longevity science conference, the scientists agreed that, for now, there’s only one scientifically certified approach to extending human life: vigorous exercise and a healthy diet. Too bad. It’s so tedious.

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