Researchers from diverse institutions analyzed 167 studies across eight vertebrate species, comparing dietary restriction, rapamycin, and metformin effects on lifespan. They report that while calorie restriction remains the most reliable longevity strategy, rapamycin—by inhibiting the mTOR nutrient-sensing pathway—provided nearly comparable lifespan extension, positioning rapamycin as a promising pharmacological alternative for anti-aging interventions.
Key points
- Meta-analysis of 167 studies across eight vertebrate species demonstrates lifespan extension effects of calorie restriction and rapamycin.
- Rapamycin functions as an mTORC1 inhibitor derived from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, administered pharmacologically to mimic nutrient-sensing blockade.
- Comparison reveals rapamycin’s longevity effect second only to dietary restriction, with metformin showing no clear lifespan benefits.
Why it matters: This discovery underscores rapamycin’s potential to shift anti-aging strategies from strict diets towards feasible pharmacological interventions with translational promise.
Q&A
- What is rapamycin?
- How does rapamycin inhibit aging processes?
- Why didn’t metformin show significant lifespan benefits?
- What are the potential side effects of rapamycin for longevity use?
- How does calorie restriction promote longevity?