Gene therapy for aging and longevity.

Stacia P A Everts, Michael Florea, João Pedro de Magalhães

Genomics of Ageing and Rejuvenation Lab, Department of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Aging affects virtually all organs and biological processes, and age-related diseases remain the leading causes of death worldwide. Genetic factors play a central role in modulating lifespan, and discoveries in the genetic manipulation of the aging process in animal models have transformed our perception of aging. However, translating these findings into clinical therapies remains challenging. Recent breakthroughs demonstrate that gene therapies can directly target aging mechanisms. Single-gene therapies have ameliorated multiple age-related pathologies, such as pediatric Parkinson disease. In this review, we discuss recent advances and prospects for developing gene therapies for aging and age-related diseases, highlighting potential targets, delivery strategies, cellular rejuvenation, and lessons from long-lived species. Despite remaining challenges, longevity gene therapy offers a promising avenue to reprogram aging and delay age-related decline.

The following analysis is generated by AI and may contain errors. It is separate from the authors’ abstract and is not peer review.

Research summary

This review article summarizes existing knowledge on gene therapy approaches for aging rather than presenting new experimental data or a novel theoretical framework. The paper is relevant because it directly addresses the root causes of aging by discussing genetic reprogramming and targeting aging mechanisms, but as a review of incremental advances, its scientific impact is limited.

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