Scientists make cells from an 80-year-old donor appear young, advancing ageing research

Scientists have reprogrammed blood-cell precursors from an 80-year-old donor into neural stem cells that showed an epigenetic age below 20 in a laboratory study. Scientists at the University of Bonn in Germany have found a way to make human cells display biological characteristics associated with much younger cells, with those derived from an 80-year-old donor showing an epigenetic age below 20. The findings, published in the journal Aging Cell in 2026, could help researchers understand how age-related changes occur and whether some of them can be reversed.According to the research, announced on October 9, scientists converted blood-cell precursors from an elderly donor into neural stem cells using specialised proteins called transcription factors. These stem cells can develop into nerve cells and provide researchers with a model for investigating age-related changes in the nervous system.The study's notable finding was not just the apparent rejuvenation of the cells, but also the time it took for the changes to occur. Rather than producing the transformation rapidly, the researchers observed the process unfolding over more than 100 days.Cells showed an epigenetic age below 20Biolo...