Harvard scientists: New, easier method to reverse cell aging

What's the news: Scientists have reprogrammed cells to a younger state using just chemicals.

Why should we believe it: This news is based on a study published this week by scientists at Harvard University. Among them was Dr. David Sinclair, the preeminent celebrity among longevity researchers.

In the study, scientists reported on 6 chemical cocktails that were able to reprogram human cells back to a more youthful state, something which was previously only possible with gene therapies involving Yamanaka factors.

Why this is a big deal: Cell rejuvenation via Yamanaka factor gene therapy, a discovery that won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Medicine, is one of the most promising avenues towards genuine rejuvenation. It has been demonstrated in mice, and only this past April, in monkeys as well.

The trouble is gene therapy is complicated and expensive. An industry report from 2017 — the latest I could find — found that a single dose of gene therapy typically costs between $1 million and $2 million.

What scientists have now demonstrated is that comparable results are possible with a technology that's much more accessible — simple chemical compounds, which could potentially be delivered in a pill.

So what's next: The current study is only a proof of concept done in cell cultures. Next will be animal studies, and if everything pans out, human studies. That might sound like a long way into the future, but considering the speed with which Sinclair and Co. have been publishing breakthrough results, it might come much sooner than you expect.