&w=3840&q=100)
Scientists edge closer to drug that could safely extend human lifespan
A major new study published in the journal Aging Cell brings scientists a step closer to viable longevity therapies. The study, titled Rapamycin, not metformin, mirrors dietary restriction-driven lifespan extension in vertebrates: A meta-analysis, suggests that rapamycin could be a promising alternative to dietary restriction.
What is rapamycin and how does it affect ageing?
Rapamycin, first discovered in soil from Easter Island in the 1970s, is an immunosuppressant drug commonly used in kidney transplants and cardiac stents. It works by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, a key nutrient-sensing mechanism involved in growth, metabolism, and ageing.
What the study found
In this meta-analysis, researchers reviewed 167 studies across eight vertebrate species, from fish to monkeys. Key findings include:
Dietary restriction remains the most consistent method for extending lifespan
Rapamycin showed comparable benefits in prolonging lifespan and improving healthspan
While the drug can suppress the immune system and affect fertility, early human trials with low, intermittent doses have demonstrated promising outcomes
Should people start taking rapamycin now?
Not yet, say experts. While the findings are promising, scientists caution against premature use in humans until more safety data is available. Ongoing research is examining whether low-dose regimens can yield benefits without major side effects.
The road ahead for anti-ageing therapies
The study adds weight to the idea that ageing can be biologically modulated. Rapamycin's potential to promote longevity without strict dieting could pave the way for the development of future drugs aimed at healthy ageing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Time of India
This drug can extend lifespan? Scientists find a pill that may boost longevity
For decades, scientists have explored ways to slow aging and extend human lifespan. From strict calorie restriction diets to gene editing experiments, many strategies have shown promise in lab animals but proved challenging for humans. Now, new research suggests that a combination of existing drugs may offer a more practical alternative. A study by the University of East Anglia's School of Biological Sciences found that two FDA-approved medications — Rapamycin and Metformin, already used for other purposes — could mimic the effects of dietary restriction and potentially increase lifespan. While results are largely based on animal studies, the findings are generating excitement among biologists and longevity researchers, with human trials currently underway to determine whether the same benefits might apply to people. How the drug mimics calorie restriction to extend lifespan One of the most consistent findings in aging research is that eating less, without malnutrition, can extend lifespan in many species. However, maintaining long-term dietary restriction is difficult for most people. The new study focused on Rapamycin and Metformin, drugs that replicate the cellular response to fasting. These medications act on nutrient-sensing pathways in the body, essentially 'tricking' cells into behaving as if they are in a low-calorie environment. In mice, this has led to increased longevity and improved metabolic health. Scientists examined over 160 studies involving vertebrates like fish, rodents, and monkeys to assess how these drugs affect lifespan. They discovered that while calorie restriction consistently produced longevity benefits across sexes and species, Rapamycin, when used individually, also showed a notable increase in lifespan — in some cases by as much as 30 percent. However, results weren't always uniform. In rare cases, the same drugs or diets led to shortened lifespan, highlighting the need for more targeted research. Early signs from human trials Although most of the existing evidence is from animal models, early human trials of Rapamycin have already begun. Researchers are testing low doses of the drug to reduce side effects while preserving its longevity-enhancing effects. Preliminary results are not yet published, but early data suggest potential improvements in immune response and cellular repair. Scientists remain cautiously optimistic, emphasizing that it will take several years before conclusive evidence in humans is available. Risks and limitations Despite the excitement, experts urge caution. Rapamycin, in particular, is known to suppress the immune system at higher doses — a serious concern for long-term use. Metformin, commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, has shown fewer risks but also weaker effects on longevity. Additionally, what is effective in rodents doesn't always translate to human biology. Until large-scale, peer-reviewed clinical trials confirm safety and effectiveness, these pills remain a possibility rather than a prescription for longer life.
Business Standard
24-06-2025
- Business Standard
Scientists edge closer to drug that could safely extend human lifespan
For decades, researchers have explored ways to slow the ageing process and extend healthy lifespan. One consistent strategy has been dietary restriction, which has reliably increased lifespan in several animal species. However, maintaining long-term calorie reduction is difficult for humans and may sometimes lead to adverse health effects. A major new study published in the journal Aging Cell brings scientists a step closer to viable longevity therapies. The study, titled Rapamycin, not metformin, mirrors dietary restriction-driven lifespan extension in vertebrates: A meta-analysis, suggests that rapamycin could be a promising alternative to dietary restriction. What is rapamycin and how does it affect ageing? Rapamycin, first discovered in soil from Easter Island in the 1970s, is an immunosuppressant drug commonly used in kidney transplants and cardiac stents. It works by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, a key nutrient-sensing mechanism involved in growth, metabolism, and ageing. What the study found In this meta-analysis, researchers reviewed 167 studies across eight vertebrate species, from fish to monkeys. Key findings include: Dietary restriction remains the most consistent method for extending lifespan Rapamycin showed comparable benefits in prolonging lifespan and improving healthspan While the drug can suppress the immune system and affect fertility, early human trials with low, intermittent doses have demonstrated promising outcomes Should people start taking rapamycin now? Not yet, say experts. While the findings are promising, scientists caution against premature use in humans until more safety data is available. Ongoing research is examining whether low-dose regimens can yield benefits without major side effects. The road ahead for anti-ageing therapies The study adds weight to the idea that ageing can be biologically modulated. Rapamycin's potential to promote longevity without strict dieting could pave the way for the development of future drugs aimed at healthy ageing.
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Do longevity drugs work?
As elixirs of life go, long-term fasting is a surprising candidate. Yet it seems to work. Experiments on species from nematode worms to rhesus monkeys show that near-starvation prolongs lifespan. And, though no long-term experiment has been conducted to prove the same is true in Homo sapiens, short-term ones suggest similar physiological changes happen. PREMIUM Both rapamycin and metformin have drawn the attention of the 'live for ever' brigade because they inhibit what is known as the mTOR pathway (indeed, mTOR stands for 'mechanistic target of rapamycin')(Representational image) Mysteriously, however, most people are loth to trade three square meals a day in the here and now for the promise of a longer retirement, so the search has been on for chemical alternatives to fasting. Two molecules in particular have attracted attention: rapamycin, an immunosuppressant used to stop the rejection of transplanted kidneys, and metformin, an anti-diabetes drug. June 19th saw the publication of a paper summarising the evidence of their effectiveness in animals, compared with fasting. Both rapamycin and metformin have drawn the attention of the 'live for ever' brigade because they inhibit what is known as the mTOR pathway (indeed, mTOR stands for 'mechanistic target of rapamycin'). Overactivation of this in old age is associated with hallmarks of ageing such as inflammation. Conversely, fasting suppresses mTOR activity. That promotes autophagy, a phenomenon in which cells clear out their accumulated crud, which is reckoned lifespan-enhancing. Moreover, both substances also have the advantages of having undergone safety trials as part of approval for their on-label uses, and of being off-patent, and therefore cheap. Being off-patent, however, cuts both ways. It means commercial sponsors for human clinical trials are hard to find, since they cannot monopolise sales. As a result the Targeting Ageing with Metformin (TAME) trial, a proposal sponsored by the American Federation for Aging Research, a charity, and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015, remains in abeyance for lack of funds. Rapamycin, by contrast, has been tested in what is known as the PEARL (Participatory Evaluation of Ageing with Rapamycin for Longevity) trial, which began in July 2020. But this found no strong evidence that it worked. Animal tests have proved more definitive. The new paper, published in Aging Cell by Edward Ivimey-Cook of Glasgow University and his colleagues, gathers all the vertebrate-trial evidence that the authors could find. This amounts to 167 studies on eight species, ranging from fish to monkeys. The answers seem clear-cut. To no one's surprise, calorie restriction works. So, to a pretty-much equal extent, does rapamycin. But metformin does not. That is a blow to those, their number unknown but probably amounting to thousands, who have twisted their doctors' arms to get an off-label prescription of it for life extension. But it is a boost to those who have opted for rapamycin. These include Vinod Khosla, one of Silicon Valley's best-known venture capitalists, and, until recently, Bryan Johnson, another Californian techie, who has made a second career out of his quest for immortality. Mr Johnson, however, dropped rapamycin in 2024 because of its side-effects (abnormal lipid and glucose levels, elevated heart rate and increased risk of skin infection). All of which is interesting. But for mere mortals who want a long and healthy life without the risk of rapamycin's side-effects the advice remains the same: eat wisely, drink moderately, exercise regularly, sleep well. And stub that cigarette out. Curious about the world? To enjoy our mind-expanding science coverage, sign up to Simply Science, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.
