Can You Reverse the Signs of Aging?

What if you could turn back the hands of time, and reverse the aging process?

People have been asking this question for millennia. The search for an answer, and for a remedy that would preserve youthful vitality, beauty, and longevity, is a story nearly as old as mankind.

Tales of the Fountain of Youth, a mythical spring whose waters were said to restore the youth of all who drank from it, began to circulate in the 5th century BC. The lure of its powers took hold of many philosophers, explorers, and leaders alike. Alexander the Great, legend has it, set out on an epic journey in search of its promise of eternal youth, as did Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León.¹ 

Today, modern scientific research continues to explore this question, with studies delving into not only how to best support healthy aging and slow its visible signs, but whether it is possible to reverse them altogether. 

Can you reverse the signs of aging? Read on to find out what the most cutting edge research has to say, and discover helpful tips to keep you feeling (and looking) your most vibrant.

Recent studies have explored the possibilities of reversing the aging process at the cellular level.

Stem cell research has advanced the prospect of effective anti-aging treatments by revealing how cellular regeneration, tissue repair, and reprogramming factors could potentially restore youthful function and slow age-related decline.

In 2012, Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University won a Nobel Prize for his discovery that certain genes (called Yamanaka factors) can effectively reprogram mature cells, turning them into versatile stem cells. This breakthrough, like hitting a cellular reset button, has allowed scientists to study disease, develop new therapies, and explore ways to reverse certain signs of aging.²

In one 2023 study, researchers at a San Diego-based biotechnology company gave elderly mice a gene therapy using three Yamanaka factors, which doubled their lifespan and partially restored youthful DNA patterns.³ 

The same year, researchers at Harvard Medical School built upon Yamanaka’s discovery, testing molecules that could “reverse cellular aging and rejuvenate human cells.” According to an article in the journal Aging, the team was able to identify “six chemical cocktails” which could effectively reprogram human cells to a younger state within a week. “Until recently, the best we could do was slow aging,” Harvard University Genetics professor David Sinclair, A.O., Ph.D. told Aging. “New discoveries suggest we can now reverse it.”⁴

Numerous studies have also been conducted into reversing visible signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. 

Research has demonstrated that anti-aging skincare topicals, aesthetic therapies, and oral supplements may all contribute to reversing visible signs of aging. 

A 2023 study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine suggested that the application of certain topicals could help “reverse facial skin aging,” by “increasing hydration and rejuvenating the appearance of skin.”⁵

Research on the effects of red light therapy, published in Skin Research & Technology the same year, stated that the use of LED light therapy masks may “reverse the visible signs of aging,” with results “lasting up to one month” after use.⁶

Multiple studies on collagen supplements determined that use of oral collagen demonstrated reduced or delayed signs of aging, with improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and reduced wrinkling. ^{7, 8} Diet, including foods rich in collagen-boosting nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants, also plays a role in maintaining youthful, healthy skin.⁹

Additionally, scientists have explored the potential for reversing aging in terms of vitality and longevity.

When it comes to lifespan, says a recent scientific review in Science Direct, diet and nutrition play a significant role in delaying or even reversing the aging process. Some research suggests that time-restricted eating habits, like intermittent fasting, may contribute to longevity. Limiting the intake of certain nutrients, like carbohydrates, can also contribute to longer life expectancy. Diets high in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and essential fatty acids have been shown to improve not only lifespan, but “health span” or quality of life.¹⁰

In a 2021 study in Aging, researchers tested whether healthy men in their 50s–70s could “turn back the clock” on biological aging using an eight-week diet and lifestyle program. The plan included a nutrient-rich diet, exercise, stress-reducing breathing, better sleep, and probiotics. At the end, participants demonstrated a 3+ year reduction in biological age and had healthier blood markers, suggesting that pairing a nutrient-dense diet with healthy lifestyle habits may slow or even reverse some aspects of aging.¹¹

Have health and beauty technologies advanced enough to bring us a modern-day fountain of youth?

While research into cellular aging like the studies shared above shows promise for “opening avenues for regenerative medicine and, potentially, whole-body rejuvenation,” general clinical or therapeutic application of this evidence remains a goal of the future.⁴ 

To address visible signs of aging like sagging or wrinkled skin, outside of aesthetic procedures (think facelift), anti-aging topicals and treatments like light therapy have shown promise, but require consistent, continued use to see benefits. Even the effects of popular fillers and injectables are temporary, with ongoing treatments needed over time.

Studies have also shown that topical anti-aging treatments deliver greater benefits when paired with healthy lifestyle habits, age-balancing nutrition, and certain oral supplements. Together, these practices can help to support a healthy body and vibrant life, promote youthful-looking skin, and slow and diminish signs of aging.^{12, 13} 

Aging is a natural part of living, and is impacted by a number of factors from hormones and environmental pollutants to lifestyle choice, stress, genetics, and cellular damage. 

According to the National Institute on Aging, the following lifestyle changes can help boost your health as you age:

• Get moving – try gardening, biking, or walking. 

• Choose healthy foods rich in nutrients. 

• Manage stress – try yoga or keep a journal.

• Learn something – take a class or join a club. 

• Go to the doctor regularly.

• Connect with family and friends.¹⁴

Staying physically active is one of the most powerful ways to support healthy aging. Regular exercise helps maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, which reduces the risk of injury. It also supports heart health, improves circulation, boosts energy, and enhances mood by lowering stress and promoting better sleep.

Even moderate activities like walking, swimming, yoga, or light strength training can make a meaningful difference in preserving mobility and overall well-being well into later years. To support healthy aging, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, says the CDC.¹⁵ 

As we age, our nutritional needs change: 

With time, our bodies require more targeted nutrition to support energy, bone health, skin integrity, and cognitive function. Nutrients like protein, calcium, omega-3s, antioxidants, and key vitamins become especially important, since natural absorption and production processes decline over time.

As digestive processes also tend to slow with age, in addition to getting regular exercise, eating plenty of high fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and oatmeal and incorporating probiotics can be helpful in supporting balanced digestion. 

Chronic stress impacts aging as it increases inflammation, raising cortisol levels and contributing to issues like poor sleep, fatigue, and premature skin changes. Over time, this can weaken immunity and speed up age-related decline.  

To help prevent these effects, practices like mindfulness, regular exercise, deep breathing, and maintaining strong social connections can calm the nervous system and build resilience against daily stressors.

Keeping the mind active through learning and cognitive activities has been shown to help preserve memory, focus, and problem-solving skills as we age. Reading, puzzles, games, and learning new skills stimulate brain function, strengthen neural connections, and may even help protect against cognitive decline.¹⁶

Try signing up for a class with a local community organization, joining an art workshop, or even enrolling in a virtual learning program to keep your mind sharp.

Checking in with your doctor regularly allows detection and monitoring of health issues and personalized guidance on prevention. Routine checkups also provide an opportunity to update screenings, adjust medications, identify gaps in your nutritional intake, and keep your overall wellness on track. 

Strong social connections and a sense of community play a vital role in healthy aging by reducing loneliness, lowering stress, and supporting emotional well-being. Studies show that cultivating meaningful relationships and participating in social activities not only boosts mood, but can also improve physical health and longevity. 

Be intentional about carving out time to spend with friends and family to strengthen existing relationships, and try signing up for a fitness class or volunteering for a cause that you hold dear to help foster new connections.

Getting all of the age-supporting nutrients our bodies need from diet alone can be challenging. 

Research has shown that certain dietary supplements can be helpful in supporting aging concerns like energy levels, bone and joint health, sleep quality, cardiovascular health, compromised immunity, bruise-prone skin, mobility, and visible signs of aging like fine lines, sagging skin, weak hair, and brittle nails. 

Try these science-backed, physician-formulated supplements to support overall wellness for a healthy, vibrant life and help promote more supple, youthful-looking skin, healthy hair, and stronger nails.

• Anti-Aging Formula - This award-winning, age-balancing multi is formulated to support youthful, glowing skin, healthy hair and nails, daytime energy, restful sleep, immune health, and overall well-being.  

• Super EPA DHA Fish Oil - The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to support cardiovascular health, healthy skin, immune health, cognitive function, and overall well-being. 

• Daily Balance Probiotic-8 - Probiotics can help address digestive imbalances and irregularity by supporting a balanced gut microbiome. This advanced daily synbiotic, with eight probiotic species and prebiotic FOS, is formulated to promote healthy digestion, skin, and immune defenses.   

• Bromelain with Quercetin - Inflammation can contribute to cellular aging. Powerful phytonutrient antioxidants bromelain and quercetin help promote a balanced inflammatory response, healthy tissue repair, and immune health. 

• Collagen Peptides - Natural production of collagen, a critical structural protein in skin and connective tissues, begins to decline in our twenties, contributing to signs of aging like dry, sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are easy to digest, and have been shown to promote mobility, skin hydration, elasticity, and more youthful, glowing skin. 

• Bone Support - As we age, essential minerals become increasingly important to help maintain strong, healthy bones. This mineral intensive formula with calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and zinc supports bones, joints, and teeth while supporting a healthy stress response and promoting restful sleep.

• Arnica Tabs + Cream - Botanically-derived Arnica montana tablets and topicals work together to help naturally reduce pain, bruising, and swelling.