Israeli scientists at Bar-Ilan University have demonstrated that aspects of cellular aging can be reversed in mice by increasing activity of the SIRT6 protein. In the study, published in Nature Communications, 24-month-old mice — roughly equivalent to humans in their 70s or 80s — showed restored chromatin structure in liver cells after SIRT6 activation, resembling patterns seen in young animals. The treated mice also exhibited reduced inflammation and improved metabolic function, with no observed harmful side effects.

The research team, led by Prof. Haim Cohen, likened DNA organization to an instruction manual that becomes disordered with age. SIRT6 helps maintain DNA repair and gene regulation, and while prior studies showed it could extend lifespan when activated early, this is the first evidence it can reverse aging markers in already aged animals. The rejuvenated state persisted for at least three months post-treatment, suggesting durable effects.

While the results are limited to liver cells in mice, they open the possibility of future therapies targeting aging itself, not just age-related diseases. An Israeli startup, SirTLab, is developing SIRT6-based compounds for human use, though clinical trials are not yet underway. Researchers caution that it’s still unknown whether similar effects can be achieved safely in other organs or in humans.