The Download: “reprogramming” aging, and the hidden sense of interoception

Life Biosciences dosed its first volunteer this week with an experimental treatment aimed at reversing glaucoma by regenerating healthy eye nerves, a development that could extend to reversing other age-related diseases and potentially aging itself. This approach, known as "reprogramming" cells to a younger state, is gaining significant traction among biotech companies exploring rejuvenation strategies. The company's work is detailed in The Checkup newsletter, which focuses on biotech advancements.

Separately, research into interoception, the body's internal sense of its own state, is accelerating. This field, bolstered by a 2021 Nobel Prize and new mapping tools for internal signaling, is revealing how signals travel between the body and brain. Understanding interoception has profound implications for treating conditions such as obesity, chronic pain, and anxiety, potentially opening up a "new continent of awareness," as described in MIT Technology Review Explains. The newsletter series aims to clarify complex technological topics.