Could mending damaged DNA prolong life? Inspired by long-lived animals — and human centenarians — researchers are hunting for ways to enhance DNA repair and extend healthspan. By Elizabeth Quill

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02385-9?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=4dd3d42714-nature-briefing-daily-20260904&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 DNA damage seems to underlie many of the hallmarks of ageing, including chronic inflammation, metabolic malfunctions and protein-folding problems. But our bodies already have a wonderfully efficient DNA-repair system that heals countless wounds to this molecule — from ultraviolet light, for example — every day. Scientists are asking: if DNA damage is at the root of ageing, can boosting DNA repair slow the process, keeping people healthy for longer? Research into relatively long-lived species, such as bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber), and into the genetics of human centenarians, is sparking fresh optimism about the approach.