Gene therapies for longevity and healthspan extension: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the evidence on gene therapies aimed at modifying the biological processes of aging and extending healthspan. METHODS: A systematic review according to PRISMA 2020 of genetic studies in humans, experimental studies, and clinical trials indexed in PubMed and SciELO between 1997 and 2023. RESULTS: Variants of the FOXO3 gene were associated with human longevity. In mouse models, Klotho overexpression and telomerase gene therapy extended lifespan without increasing cancer, partial epigenetic reprogramming reversed markers of aging and restored vision, and a combined gene therapy improved several age-related diseases. In vivo gene editing has already been safely applied in humans for other diseases, but there are no clinical trials demonstrating the extension of human lifespan. CONCLUSIONS: Gene therapies for longevity are promising, but still experimental.