Not yet shown in people
Research Frontier
This is the work the longevity field is excited about that has not yet been shown to help people. Some of it has only been tested in mice or cells. Some has early human data that cannot show an effect on its own.
Kept apart from the graded evidence.
Nothing on this page carries a letter. A letter on this site describes human randomized trial evidence, and the point of this page is that there is none yet, or not enough to weigh. Where a record exists, its own page states its letter and the trial that would change it.
More background on several of these topics is on Emerging Research and on the Evidence Target page for partial reprogramming. Studies the records cite without counting them are on Evidence that sets no letter.
In animals and cells only
No randomized human trial has been published for any of these. Animal and laboratory work can show a mechanism. It cannot show what happens in a person, and most results in mice do not carry over.
Tracked topics
Partial epigenetic reprogramming (Yamanaka factors)
Briefly switching on four cell-reprogramming genes reset markers of cellular age in mice, extended lifespan in a fast-aging mouse model and restored vision in aged mice. No human efficacy trial has been published.
More on this →Senolytic A compound intended to clear senescent cells: older cells that have stopped dividing but remain in tissue. CAR T cells
Engineered immune cells that clear senescent cells improved metabolic measures in mice long after a single dose. No human trial in an aging indication has been published.
Senolytic vaccination
Immunizing mice against a protein carried by senescent cells improved age-related measures and extended lifespan in a fast-aging mouse model. No human trial has been published.
CD38 inhibition
Blocking CD38, an enzyme that consumes NAD+ Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a molecule cells use in energy metabolism. Its level falls with age in some tissues., raised tissue NAD+ and improved metabolic measures in aged mice. No CD38 inhibitor has published human results in an aging indication.
Novel magnesium salts (acetyl-taurate, L-threonate)
In rats, magnesium acetyl-taurate reached the brain better than magnesium L-threonate. No randomized human trial has compared either salt on a thinking or memory endpoint The outcome a trial measures to decide whether the treatment worked, such as heart attacks, blood pressure or a symptom score..
Ergothioneine and lifespan
Male mice given ergothioneine lived longer and scored better on healthspan measures. No randomized human trial on any aging endpoint has been published.
Records whose only support is animal or laboratory work
Apigenin
No human randomized trial.
Cited on the record: 1 mouse study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Arterosil HP (Rhamnan Sulfate)
No human randomized trial on vascular outcomes.
Cited on the record: 2 mouse studies.
The record, and the trial that would change it →BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157)
No human randomized trial result published.
Cited on the record: 1 rat study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →C60 (Carbon-60 / Buckminsterfullerene)
No human randomized trial of oral C60.
Cited on the record: 2 mouse studies, 1 rat study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate (Ca-AKG)
No human randomized trial on an aging outcome.
Cited on the record: 1 mouse study, 1 worm study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Fisetin
No human randomized trial as a senolytic.
Cited on the record: 1 cell study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Geranylgeraniol (GG)
No human randomized trial.
Cited on the record: 1 zebrafish study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Magnesium Glycinate 300–400 mg
Claimed for: Insulin resistance. No randomized human trial of this has been published.
Cited on the record: 1 rat study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Magnesium Glycinate 300–400 mg elemental
Claimed for: Blood pressure. No randomized human trial of this has been published.
Cited on the record: 2 rat studies.
The record, and the trial that would change it →NAD+ (Direct Oral Supplementation)
No human randomized trial on any health outcome.
Cited on the record: 1 mouse study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Piperlongumine
No human randomized trial.
Cited on the record: 1 cell study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Procyanidin C1 (PCC1)
No human randomized trial.
Cited on the record: 2 mouse studies.
The record, and the trial that would change it →Vascanox HP (Nitric Oxide / Noxa24)
No human randomized trial.
Cited on the record: 1 mouse study, 1 rat study.
The record, and the trial that would change it →In people, early and unconfirmed
These have human data, but of a kind that cannot show an effect: a secondary analysis the trial was not designed for, or a study with no comparison group. A result like this is a reason to run a trial, not a result of one.
Fasting-mimicking diet. Biological-age result
A secondary, exploratory analysis of a fasting-mimicking diet trial reported a lower estimated biological age. It was not the question the trial was designed to answer, and it has not been confirmed.
The record →Personalized precision medicine for early Alzheimer's disease
A single-arm pilot in 25 people with early Alzheimer's disease reported better scores on cognitive tests under a personalized program, with no control group. The randomized trial that followed is posted only as a preprint and has not been peer reviewed.
Kept apart from the letters
A letter that looks wrong can be disputed on the grade challenge page, with the trial that bears on it.