Klotho gene therapy

Klotho is a protein that drops sharply as you age. It acts as a co-receptor for the hormone FGF23. Its soluble, circulating form (s-Klotho) dampens Wnt and TGF-β signaling. In observational studies, it is tied to better kidney function, sharper thinking, and heart protection. The animal evidence is striking. In mice, overexpressing Klotho extended lifespan (Kurosu et al., 2005). And AAV-delivered Klotho gene therapy improved kidney function and rescued cognition in disease models. In aged rhesus monkeys, injecting recombinant Klotho protein (not gene therapy) boosted cognition (Castner et al., 2023). AAV-Klotho gene therapy in primates has not been published. For human longevity, this is strictly preclinical. BioViva and affiliated researchers have reported self-experiments with gene therapy in single individuals, outside regulated trials. But those lack controlled safety or efficacy data and should not be read as proof of benefit. Risks include disrupting FGF23-phosphate balance. There are also the usual immune and off-target concerns of body-wide AAV delivery. One reassuring note: vascular calcification is a sign of Klotho deficiency. So more Klotho is expected to protect, not calcify.

Last reviewed: June 22, 2026

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