SIRT6 Rewinds Age-Related DNA Unraveling in Old Mice Livers Within 1 Month
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · May 29
SIRT6 Rewinds Age-Related DNA Unraveling in Old Mice Livers Within 1 Month
3 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · May 29
One month after researchers raised SIRT6 levels in elderly mice, liver chromatin shifted back toward the tightly packed DNA organization seen in younger animals.
The team found that extra SIRT6 preserved gene-control programs, keeping inflammatory genes quieter while sustaining liver metabolic function despite other aging changes.
Male mice engineered to overproduce SIRT6 also retained youthful chromatin into old age, suggesting the protein can both protect against and partially reverse age-linked molecular decline.
Nature Communications published the study, which adds evidence for the idea that aging reflects lost cellular information and that some tissue changes may be reversible, though the findings do not yet translate to humans.
Can the protein that rejuvenated mouse livers safely reverse aging in the human brain or heart?
As a company pursues human trials, what is the biggest hurdle in turning this mouse study into medicine?
SIRT6 Overexpression Reverses 80% of Liver Aging Markers and Extends Lifespan by 27% in Mice: A 2026 Breakthrough
Overview
A groundbreaking study led by Prof. Haim Cohen’s team in May 2026 showed that increasing the protein SIRT6 in the livers of aged mice can reverse key signs of aging. By boosting SIRT6, researchers restored youthful DNA organization, silenced harmful inflammatory genes, and reduced inflammation, leading to improved liver function. This work builds on earlier findings about SIRT6’s role in longevity and suggests that aging is not just a passive decline but can be actively reversed at the molecular level. The discovery opens new possibilities for therapies targeting the root causes of aging.