Health · Medical Research · 2 days ago
Bonn researchers reset age markers in human cells in the lab
Researchers at the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn changed red blood cell precursors into neural stem cells in a laboratory.
Neural stem cells can develop into neurons.
The researchers found that the cells’ epigenetic clocks, which track age-related changes in how genes are read, were reset during this process.
Cells from an 80-year-old donor showed a molecular age of less than 20 years.
Unlike a method that changes cells in two stages, this process moved directly to neural stem cells and rejuvenated the cells gradually over more than 100 days.
That slow change gives researchers time to study what drives cellular rejuvenation and what might speed it up or slow it down.
The findings could help research in neuroscience, but the work described was done in a test tube.
Researchers at the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn directly reprogrammed human red blood cell precursors into neural stem cells in a laboratory.
During reprogramming, the cells’ epigenetic clocks, which track age-related DNA modifications, were reset.
Cells from an 80-year-old donor reached a measured molecular age of less than 20 years.
Unlike a two-step process used in earlier studies, this direct conversion did not pass through a pluripotent stem-cell stage.
Rejuvenation unfolded gradually and could be tracked for more than 100 days, offering researchers a model to study what speeds up or slows down the process.
The findings were published in the journal Aging Cell and may help researchers investigate ageing, a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases.
- Who
- Researchers from the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn
- What
- Directly reprogrammed red blood cell precursors into neural stem cells, resetting their epigenetic clocks
- When
- The study was published on October 9, 2026
- Where
- A laboratory in Bonn, Germany
- Why
- To study cellular rejuvenation and the factors that may accelerate or slow it
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
In our approach, rejuvenation occurred gradually and could be tracked for over 100 days.
After all, age is the most important risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's!
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Institutions
- University Hospital of Bonn and University of Bonn
- Starting cells
- Red blood cell precursors
- Example donor age
- 80 years old
- Measured molecular age after reprogramming
- Less than 20 years
- Observation period
- More than 100 days
- Journal
- Aging Cell
Sources
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