Ageing could soon be reversible, says Harvard scientist
Scientists have reversed biological aging markers by up to 75% in specific animal tissues within weeks..
At the 2026 in Dubai summit, Dr. David Sinclair said scientists are preparing human clinical trials to reverse aspects of ageing. The goal is to treat ageing itself, the main risk factor behind diseases like Alzheimer’s, heart disease and diabetes.
The approach uses epigenetic reprogramming to restore cells to a younger state. As people age, cells lose epigenetic information that controls how genes function. Resetting this information may allow old cells to behave like young ones again without altering DNA.
Using modified Yamanaka genes (reprogramming factors), Sinclair’s team has already reversed ageing in animal tissues by up to 75% within weeks through partial cellular reprogramming. Human trials aim to test whether similar effects can be achieved safely in people.
Sinclair predicted that within the next 10 to 20 years, modern healthcare could shift from treating diseases to preventing and reversing ageing itself, potentially making today’s systems look outdated.
“We are about to test, for the first time in history, whether we can reverse ageing and cure diseases,” he said.
Beyond health benefits, he emphasized major economic impacts.
In the United States, extending healthy lifespan by just one year could generate an estimated $38 trillion in economic value by improving productivity.
He also linked longevity research to falling birth rates and shrinking workforces, saying societies may face a choice between replacing workers with robots or keeping people healthier for longer.
“Our greatest asset is human productivity,” Sinclair said.