Scientists have taken a step toward reversing aging by engineering an enzyme that can erase a common marker of age-related damage. In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers from Revel Pharmaceuticals, Calico, and the University of Colorado reported that the enzyme reduced a specific sign of aging by up to 70% in human tissue samples.
The team focused on a type of damage that accumulates as people get older. They designed a custom enzyme that targets and removes this damage. Laboratory tests showed the enzyme worked effectively on human tissue, restoring cells to a more youthful state.
The research is still in early stages, and it is not yet clear if the enzyme will work in living humans. However, the results raise the possibility of treatments that could slow or even reverse some effects of aging.
The study was led by scientists at Revel Pharmaceuticals, a company that develops therapies for age-related conditions. The company plans to continue research to better understand how the enzyme works and whether it can be made safe for human use.
The findings add to a growing field of research aimed at understanding the biological processes behind aging and finding ways to intervene. While a true "fountain of youth" remains distant, this study marks a step forward in the science of aging.