Rapamycin is a naturally occurring compound that is mainly used prevent organ rejection in transplant patients. It is also considered a promising anti-aging drug among those seeking longevity.
Rapamycin is trending on social media, where biohackers such as Dr. Peter Attia And Brian Johnson It is promoted as the “gold standard” for people wanting to live a long and healthy life.
also known as Sirolimus or RapamuneRapamycin inhibits the activity of a protein called mTOR, which helps regulate cell growth and metabolism. Suppressing mTOR reduces inflammation and accelerates autophagy, a process that removes damaged substances from cells.
Chronic inflammation is linked to diabetesheart disease and muscle pain, so reducing it could provide a number of health benefits. And increasing autophagy could potentially clear toxic proteins like amyloid-beta and tau. Accumulation of these two proteins in the brain can lead to alzheimer's disease,
It’s unclear how many people are taking rapamycin for its anti-aging properties, as the drug is typically taken off-label or purchased from overseas providers. the new York Times Report.
Scientists first became aware of rapamycin’s anti-aging potential in 2006, when a study suggested that the compound might help prevent aging. Increase the life of yeast.
In 2009, Other researchers found Mice that were given a dose of rapamycin lived 12% longer than those that were not given a dose.
Initially it was thought that it increases the risk of cancer, but later it was found to be harmful. research suggests Rapamycin actually prevents lymphoma and certain types of cancer in transplant patients. Rapamycin has been proven to be the most effective cancer-preventive agent in mice.
Dr. Dean Kellogg Jr., a professor of medicine and geriatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, told the Times that several drugs were tested for their anti-aging properties as part of the National Institute on Aging. Research Programs“Rapamycin was the first drug that really made a difference in the longevity and health span of both male and female mice.”
presented data A study presented at this year's American Aging Association annual meeting found that marmosets given rapamycin increased their lifespan by about 10%.
Whether these life-saving benefits will also extend to people is still unclear.
Among rapamycin supporters, the strongest association is between the drug and increased vitality A 2014 study It showed that seniors who were given an mTOR inhibitor similar to rapamycin had a better immune response to the flu vaccine than those who did not take the drug.
“This really showed that in humans, these drugs, the mTOR inhibitors, can improve something that gets worse in older people,” Adam Konopka, MD, assistant professor of geriatrics and gerontology at the University of Wisconsin, told the Times.
It also has some disadvantages. Rapamycin users may experience mouth sores and nausea, and in some cases, complaints of decreased insulin sensitivity and increased cholesterol have also been seen.
A potentially serious concern for people who take rapamycin for longevity is that the risk of infection or disease will increase due to the drug's immune-suppressing properties.
Transplant patients are given higher doses – It's possible that lower doses given to anti-aging enthusiasts could make them more susceptible to infection, especially those who already suffer from an underlying disease.
A recent study Follow-up of participants who took weekly doses awaiting peer review Rapamycin Over the course of a year, no significant benefits or outcomes were recorded, although those who took the drug reported feeling better overall.
Those given the highest dose were Rapamycin, increased bone density in men and more in women lean muscle mass — two established defenses in the fight against aging.
Adam Salmon, a professor of molecular medicine at UT Health San Antonio, told the Times that although a clear short-term benefit has not yet been reported or confirmed, that does not mean rapamycin is ineffective.
He explained that rapamycin in older animals works to “prevent and preserve things” rather than reverse or regenerate them, “so unless you're doing long-term human studies looking at preservation of health, you shouldn't expect to see significant improvements.”
