A meta-analysis published in Aging Cell unites data from eight vertebrate species to demonstrate that rapamycin achieves lifespan extension equivalent to severe caloric restriction by inhibiting the mTOR pathway. This finding highlights rapamycin’s potential as a practical anti-aging intervention.
Key points
- Meta-analysis of 167 studies across eight vertebrate species shows rapamycin extends lifespan on par with severe caloric restriction.
- Rapamycin inhibits the mTOR pathway, mimicking nutrient scarcity to activate cellular repair, autophagy, and stress-resistance programs.
- Intermittent dosing schedules and development of rapalogs aim to retain longevity effects while reducing immunosuppressive side effects in healthy humans.
Why it matters: Demonstrating that a drug can reliably mimic the gold-standard dietary restriction effect marks a paradigm shift towards feasible pharmaceutical longevity therapies.
Q&A
- What is rapamycin?
- Why mimic dietary restriction?
- What are rapalogs?
- What side effects limit rapamycin?