Epigenetic reprogramming is becoming a reality. Youthful DNA epigenetic methylation patterns have been restored in mice after administering Oct4, Sox2 and Klf4 genes using adenovirus-associated viral delivery of DNA and lipid nanoparticle-mediated delivery of RNA. Among other things reversal of vision loss has been demonstrated in blinded mice. This form of treatment takes advantage of the malleable nature of the epigenome, the DNA methylation and histone modification patterns which regulate gene expression. Epigenetic information is somehow retained by each cell and can apparently be reset to youthful patterns — a youthful epigenone essentially translates to youthful DNA expression and reversion of the organism to a youthful state. This line of research follows the ground-breaking work of Nobel prize laureate, Shinya Yamanaka.
More recently Dr. David Sinclair and his team of researchers have demonstrated that the O, S and K “Yamanaka factors” need not be administered and instead can be induced using chemicals. Called the EPOCH method (epigenetic programming of old cell heath) this novel technique has been used in vitro to decrease the chronological age of senescent (elderly) cells by an estimated 3 years after only four days of treatment. Many researchers believe that work along these lines, especially when augmented with emerging robotic and artificial intelligence technology, may be the most cost-effective short-term means of staving off age-related diseases.
In addition to reprogramming our epigenetics and altering DNA expression it is rapidly becoming possible to alter our actual DNA using techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and their associated protein). Using this process a deleterious gene can be replaced with exogenous DNA. Presently a somewhat controversial technology, CRISPR/Cas-9 has only been approved for certain genetic diseases and is currently being developed as curative treatment for sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy, among others. Although still a developing technology one day CRISPR/Cas9 and associated techniques could be used to alter physical trains such as eye colour as well as genetic predisposition to disease.
Another way gene expression is presently being altered is via RNA interference. The long-acting RNA interference agent Inclisiran was able to alter gene expression and reduce PCSK9 and LDL cholesterol levels dramatically for at least 6 months after a single administration. Patisiran was approved in 2018 to suppress the gene encoding transthyretin amyloid — mutations in this gene can lead to serious cardiac and neurological dysfunction and death.