Dr. David Sinclair: The First Human Trial of an Age-Reversal Therapy

Dr. David Sinclair: The First Human Trial of an Age-Reversal Therapy

From The James Altucher Show by James Altucher

July 3, 2026 · 49 min · Episode 1407

About this episode

Dr. David Sinclair discusses the first human trial of an age-reversal therapy based on Yamanaka factors.

A Note from James: I’ve been obsessed with anti-aging and longevity science for a long time. I’ve had many longevity researchers on the podcast, but this episode feels different because something we’ve been discussing for years has now moved into human trials. David Sinclair first came on the show in 2019, when his book Lifespan was published. He’s a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, and that first conversation changed how I lived. I started experimenting with intermittent fasting, paid much more attention to sleep, and began researching many of the supplements and lifestyle changes he discussed. But the most important idea David talked about wasn’t a supplement. It was the possibility of reversing cellular age using Yamanaka factors—genes that can reset the instructions cells use to function. At the time, nobody knew whether this could be done safely without causing cancer or making cells lose their identities. Now, a therapy based on three of those factors has entered its first human clinical trial. The initial target is age-related damage to the optic nerve, including open-angle glaucoma and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The trial is designed…

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