Scientists Reverse Aging in Cells in Two New Studies

Two recent studies have introduced scientific advancements that successfully reversed the aging process in cells. Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Shamir Medical Center in Israel found that hyperbaric oxygen treatments can stop and even reverse aging in blood cells. In a separate study, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology developed a method to renew aged skin cells.

The aging process — and many of the diseases that come with it — are caused in part by the shortening of telomeres (protective caps on chromosomes) and the buildup of old cells. These two processes have been the focus of age-reversal research in the past. However, the methods used in some previous studies were seen to impair tissue regeneration and possibly cause malignant transformation, leading to cancer.

Skin Cells Renewed by Blocking Enzyme

Scientists at KAIST conducted a study using skin fibroblasts (skin cells responsible for healing wounds) and skin-equivalent tissue (bio-engineered tissue used in laboratory research). They targeted molecules involved in cell aging and found that blocking an enzyme called PDK1 allowed non-functioning cells to return to the cell cycle, essentially reversing the aging process. The restored fibroblasts were still able to repair wounds effectively without malignant transformation.

“Our research opens the door for a new generation that perceives aging as a reversible biological phenomenon,” said KAIST’s Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho in an article on the institute’s website. The researchers believe that the study may even have implications for cancer research, as the gene for PDK1 is overexpressed in some cancers.

High-Pressure Oxygen Reverses Aging in Blood Cells

Researchers at Tel Aviv University and the Shamir Medical Center used hyperbaric oxygen treatments to reverse aging in blood cells. The study was conducted on 35 healthy participants aged 64 or older over a period of three months, with each participant receiving 60 treatments. Blood samples taken before, during, and after the treatments showed that two of the major processes behind aging were reversed: The telomeres actually lengthened, and the aged cell buildup decreased significantly.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatments involve delivering pure oxygen at high pressure, which causes tissues to absorb more oxygen than normal. Previous studies have examined other effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatments, such as cognitive enhancement and stem cell proliferation, but the TAU study is the first to look at its implications for reversing the aging process.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatments may help reverse aging.
Credit: AFTAU.org

Achieving age reversal on a cellular level is still a far cry from stopping or slowing that process for an entire body. Still, these recent advances point to an encouraging future for the science of aging. These studies have brought us closer to understanding the processes behind our physical and mental deterioration as we age.