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Breaking Longevity News: The Latest Science on Extending Healthspan & Lifespan

Stay ahead of the curve with this month’s longevity science news, featuring the most groundbreaking latest longevity research and anti-ageing human trials. From healthspan analysis to lifespan study breakthroughs, we cover the most compelling human longevity news shaping the future of ageing.

Whether you're looking for longevity analysis on healthspan extension or updates on life expectancy research, our curated selection of longevity news, including past editions, keeps you informed on the science of increasing healthspan and slowing ageing. 

Let’s review the latest research on longevity and explore how cutting-edge discoveries could redefine the ageing process.

Engineered Stem Cells Show Promise in Treating Lung Scarring in Mice

Scientists have successfully used specially designed stem cells to reduce lung scarring in mice, offering potential hope for future human treatments.  

The treatment significantly improved lung function and reduced signs of ageing in the damaged tissue.  

Researchers engineered stem cells to produce a healing protein called GDF11 only when activated by a specific antibiotic, preventing harmful side effects.  

Older mice with lung damage, which is similar to human pulmonary fibrosis, recovered better after receiving the engineered cells compared to untreated mice.  

The study, published in Molecular Therapy, found that the treated mice had healthier lung structure and better breathing capacity.  

GDF11 is a complex protein that can either help or harm tissues depending on dosage and timing, making direct drug use risky.  

To solve this, scientists created controllable stem cells that safely deliver GDF11 only where and when needed.  

While promising, the treatment is still in early stages and needs further testing before human trials can begin.

Gentler Stem Cell Treatment Prevents Blood Cancers in Mice Without Toxic Drugs

Scientists have developed a safer stem cell transplant method that prevents blood cancers in mice without using toxic chemotherapy or radiation.  

The new approach uses targeted drugs to clear space in bone marrow for healthy donor cells, avoiding the harsh side effects of traditional treatments.  

Young stem cells successfully replaced aging blood systems in mice and reduced leukemia cases by over 50 per cent compared to untreated animals.  

Researchers found giving larger doses of donor cells and using special drugs to push out old cells improved treatment success in older mice.  

The experimental therapy restored youthful immune function in ageing mice, particularly rebuilding important infection-fighting white blood cells.  

While currently only tested in mice, this method could one day help prevent blood disorders and rejuvenate aging immune systems in humans.  

The Lund University team published their findings in Nature Communications, calling it a potential ‘prophylactic tool’ against age-related blood diseases.  

Scientists caution human trials are still years away but say this proves stem cell transplants can work without toxic conditioning treatments.

Scientists Develop New Tool to Edit Mitochondrial DNA, Offering Hope for Genetic Diseases 

Researchers have successfully edited DNA in human mitochondria for the first time using a new precision tool that's smaller than CRISPR.  

The breakthrough could lead to treatments for mitochondrial diseases, which currently have no cure and affect about 1 in 5,000 people.  

Unlike CRISPR, which edits nuclear DNA, this new method uses a compact base editor called DdCBE combined with guiding proteins to modify mitochondrial DNA.  

In lab tests, scientists corrected a mutation causing Gitelman-like kidney disorder in patient cells and restored proper mitochondrial function.  

The editing wasn't perfect, as it only fixed between 35 and 81 per cent of mitochondrial DNA in different cells, but showed stable, long-lasting results.  

Researchers delivered the editing tool using lipid nanoparticles, the same technology used in COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.  

While promising, scientists note the technique needs refinement for consistent results before human trials can begin.  

The study from University Medical Centre Utrecht was published in PLOS Biology and could help model and eventually treat dozens of mitochondrial disorders.

Further Reading: How Can I Improve My Mitochondrial Health? 

Psilocybin Shows Anti-Ageing Potential 

The psychedelic compound psilocybin extended cell lifespan by over 50 per cent and increased mouse longevity by 30 per cent in a new Emory University study, suggesting potential anti-ageing benefits.  

Aged mice treated with psilocybin lived nearly a third longer and showed visible youth markers like thicker fur and reduced greying compared to untreated mice.  

Researchers found psilocybin helped preserve protective chromosome caps (telomeres), reduced cellular stress and improved DNA repair, which are three key factors in slowing ageing.  

The study, published in NPJ Aging, is the first to demonstrate psilocybin's systemic anti-ageing effects beyond its known mental health benefits.  

Human skin and lung cells treated with psilocybin's active metabolite psilocin showed more than 50 per cent increased lifespan in lab tests.  

Scientists believe psilocybin's effects come from activating serotonin receptors present throughout the body, not just in the brain.  

The findings could lead to new anti-ageing therapies, especially since benefits appeared even when treatment started late in life, and while researchers caution that human trials are needed, the results open new possibilities for improving both lifespan and healthspan in ageing populations.  

Emory scientists are now investigating psilocybin's potential dual benefits for mental health and physical ageing in ongoing clinical trials.

Singapore Launches $40M Fund to Tackle Ageing and Extend Human Lifespan  

A new $40 million investment fund called Immortal Dragons has launched in Singapore to speed up breakthroughs in life extension and healthspan technologies.  

The fund has already invested in over 15 companies working on radical anti-ageing solutions like organ replacement, gene therapy and 3D bioprinting of human tissues.  

Unlike traditional venture capital, Immortal Dragons focuses on high-risk, high-reward ‘moonshot’ projects that most investors avoid, focusing on scientific impact over financial returns.  

Founder Boyang Wang, a tech entrepreneur, believes ageing should be treated as a solvable engineering challenge rather than an inevitable biological process.  

The fund supports cutting-edge research in cryopreservation, regenerative medicine and infrastructure needed to test longevity treatments faster.  

The initiative has drawn praise from leading ageing researchers like Aubrey de Grey, who sees it as filling an important gap in longevity investment, particularly for Chinese markets.  

With strong East-West connections, the fund aims to bridge global research efforts and make radical life extension accessible worldwide.

Midlife Health Problems Increase Dementia Risk 

Chronic health conditions in middle age significantly raise dementia risk later in life, with timing and sequence of illnesses playing crucial roles, according to a new Oxford University study.  

People who develop heart disease or diabetes before age 55 face the highest dementia risk, while mental health conditions like depression become stronger predictors after 55.  

The research tracked 282,000 UK adults' health records up to age 70, finding those with multiple chronic conditions had dramatically higher dementia rates.  

Risk was greatest when health problems followed specific patterns, such as early heart/metabolic issues followed by later strokes or mental health disorders.  

The study suggests dementia develops gradually over decades, with midlife being an important window for prevention through better chronic disease management.  

Researchers found people who maintained good health until 65 or improved existing conditions significantly lowered their dementia risk.  

While not proving causation, the findings highlight how managing heart health, diabetes and mental wellbeing in middle age may protect brain function later.  

The study authors call for more personalised dementia prevention strategies based on individuals' health histories and risk timelines.  

Further Reading: All About the APOE4 Gene and Alzheimer’s Disease 

World's Largest Body Scan Study Reveals Early Disease Clues

UK scientists have completed groundbreaking scans of 100,000 people, creating the most detailed picture yet of how human bodies age and develop disease.  

The massive UK Biobank project collected over one billion brain, heart and body images combined with genetic and health data spanning 15 years.  

Researchers found early warning signs of Alzheimer's, heart disease and other conditions can appear in organs years before symptoms develop.  

The scans revealed surprising differences in how people store fat and develop organ damage, even among those with similar body weights and lifestyles.  

Advanced AI tools developed from the data can now analyse heart scans in seconds and predict dementia risk years in advance.  

About 10 per cent of seemingly healthy middle-aged adults showed hidden signs of artery calcification linked to future heart problems.  

The publicly available dataset has already helped create new diagnostic methods used in NHS clinics across the UK and 90 other countries.  

Scientists can now measure biological ageing in individual organs, spotting faster decline before health problems appear.  

A follow-up study scanning 60,000 participants again will track how bodies change over time with unprecedented precision.  

This landmark research shifts medicine toward preventing disease rather than just treating symptoms as they emerge.

Politics and Inequality Speed Up Ageing, Global Study Finds

A groundbreaking study of 162,000 people across 40 countries reveals that political instability and social inequality make people age faster.  

Countries with weaker democracies and greater inequality showed citizens biologically older than their actual age, while education emerged as a key protector against faster ageing.  

The research found people in Egypt and South Africa aged fastest, while European nations aged slowest, with Asian and Latin American countries in between.  

High blood pressure, heart disease and hearing loss were top health factors speeding ageing, but political factors like unfair elections and restricted voting rights had surprisingly strong effects.  

Education, physical activity and mental sharpness provided the strongest protection against premature biological ageing across all countries studied.  

Researchers analysed health data with machine learning to calculate each person's ‘age gap,’ which is the difference between their real age and their body's biological age.  

The study suggests chronic stress from living in unstable societies may cause inflammation that accelerates ageing at the cellular level.  

While limited by varying data quality between countries, the findings could help nations develop targeted policies to promote healthier aging populations.  

Scientists hope to identify anti-ageing strategies by studying people who maintained younger biological ages despite challenging environments.

End Note

We hope this edition of our longevity newsletter has given you valuable insights into the latest longevity news, from lifespan research to emerging anti-ageing news. The field of longevity studies is advancing rapidly and staying informed is key to understanding how science can help extend healthspan and improve quality of life.

For more longevity research news, explore our past editions and in-depth blogs. If you're interested in science-backed ways to support your health, speak with your doctor about evidence-based strategies, such as taking supplements.

Science-First. Trusted Longevity Solutions.