Immortality has always been one of humanity’s oldest obsessions. Kings searched for it, philosophers argued about it, and billionaires now spend fortunes chasing it.
But the idea of immortality is no longer confined to science fiction, as a Boston biotech company plans to begin the first human trial of a treatment designed to reverse cellular aging later this year.
According to Scientific American, Life Biosciences will test an experimental process known as “partial reprogramming” in people with glaucoma and another form of optic nerve damage called NAION.
The treatment is designed to make older cells act younger again by briefly rewinding them to an earlier stage of development. Scientists hope the approach could help damaged retinal nerve cells regrow, potentially restoring vision lost with age.
The therapy uses three genes known as Yamanaka factors, named after Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka, who discovered in 2006 that four proteins could transform adult cells into stem cells.
Researchers later realized that if those proteins were activated only briefly, cells might become biologically younger without losing their original identity. That idea now sits at the center of the race toward immortality.
In the new trial, researchers will inject the three genes into one eye using a modified virus. Patients will then take an antibiotic that acts like a switch, turning the genes on only when needed. Scientists deliberately removed one of the original Yamanaka factors, called c-Myc, because it has been linked to cancer.
Participants will be monitored for at least 5 years to ensure the treatment does not trigger serious side effects.
The concept has already produced striking results in animals. Studies in mice have shown that partial reprogramming can improve muscle repair, reduce scar tissue, regenerate damaged heart cells, and even restore some memory function in older animals.
One experiment found that older mice lived longer after receiving the treatment. Another suggested that aged mice with memory problems showed healthier brain activity after their cells were partially reset.
That promise has turned immortality into one of the most heavily funded ideas in biotechnology. Companies including Altos Labs, Retro Biosciences, and NewLimit have attracted billions of dollars from investors tied to Silicon Valley. Altos Labs launched with $3 billion in funding, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has invested in Retro Biosciences.
Still, many researchers warn that the science remains far from proven. “When cells lose their identity, we know that comes with some forms of danger,” Mayo Clinic researcher Tamir Chandra said. If the process pushes cells too far, they could stop functioning properly or even become cancerous.
The excitement surrounding the research has also revived a much older question: if science could eventually offer something close to immortality, would people actually want it?
According to Psychology Today, in surveys and academic thought experiments, many people say no, even when told they would remain healthy, mentally sharp, and physically strong forever.
