Scientists rejuvenate 80-year-old's cells to under 20 in 100 days

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.