# Old Blood Cells Turned Into Neural Stem Cells Shed Most of Their Epigenetic Age

_Evidence Level: Preliminary · Berg LJ et al., Aging cell, DOI 10.1111/acel.70751_

*Protracted Fate Acquisition and Epigenetic De-Aging During Induced Neural Stem Cell Conversion of Human Blood Cells.*

- **Evidence Level**: Preliminary
- **Why this grade**: Lab study of cells from donors aged 0 to 101 with no living subjects treated, so any relevance to whole-body aging is untested.
- **Facts**: Funding: Horizon 2020; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; German Federal Ministry of…
- **Publication Types**: Journal Article
- **Journal**: Aging cell
- **Sample Size**: Blood cells from donors aged newborn to 101 years (number not stated)
- **Authors**: Berg LJ, Franzen J, Buness A, Konang R, Sheng C, Peitz M, Till A, Wagner W, Brüstle O
- **Graded and published**: 2026-10-01
- **Last edited**: 2026-10-05
- **Topics**: Epigenetic Clock, Cellular Reprogramming, Stem Cells
- **DOI**: https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.70751
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42829448/

## Summary

Converting blood cells from older donors into neural stem cells erased most of their epigenetic age, the biological age that aging clocks measure. Working with cells from donors aged newborn to 101, the team found the new cells kept only 5 to 13 percent of donor age. The rewind was slow and unfolded over weeks, making this a useful model for studying how cells shed age. This is lab dish work, and it shows nothing yet about rejuvenating tissues in a living person.

---

_Canonical: https://longevity-germany.com/en/research/old-blood-cells-turned-into-neural-stem-cells-shed-most-of-their-epigenetic-age · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-10-05_