Latest news with #LindaPartridge
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Combo of cancer therapy drugs increases mice lifespan by 30%
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Researchers have found that a cocktail of two cancer drugs can increase the lifespan of mice by up to around 30%, according to a new study. The two drugs, trametinib and rapamycin, were both effective at extending the lives of mice when administered separately, but offered even greater benefits when taken together. They also reduced chronic inflammation and delayed cancer development in the aging mice. Mice are not humans, however, so the new findings don't necessarily mean that people will live longer by taking these drugs (outside of their current prescribed use). But the study authors noted that the drugs, which are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are good candidates for human trials exploring ways to help older people age better. The researchers published their study about the potential longevity benefits of the FDA-approved drugs on May 28 in the journal Nature Aging. "While we do not expect a similar extension to human lifespans as we found in mice, we hope that the drugs we're investigating could help people to stay healthy and disease-free for longer late in life," study co-lead author Linda Partridge, a geneticist at University College London in the U.K. and the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne, Germany, said in a statement. Both drugs work by targeting cell communication pathways in the body, which play a critical role in aging and the development of diseases like cancer. Rapamycin inhibits a protein called mTOR, which regulates the division and death of cells and is associated with cancer and other diseases. Trametinib disrupts a molecular pathway called RAS/Mek/Erk, which also plays a role in cancerous cell proliferation — again, useful if you're trying to stop the growth and spread of cancer cells. Related: Heat waves may accelerate the aging process Rapamycin was already known to extend the lifespan of mice, while trametinib has previously been shown to add time to the lifespan of flies. Previous studies have also found that the drugs' separate lifespan-extending effects stack in flies, providing an even greater boost when administered together. However, the new study marks the first time that scientists have combined rapamycin and trametinib to study aging in mammals. The researchers mixed the drugs into the food of lab mice and found that, individually, rapamycin extended the mouse lifespan by 15% to 20% while trametinib extended it by around 5% to 10%. Just like in flies, the drugs proved stronger together, with a cocktail of the two increasing the mouse lifespan by up to 29%, according to the study. RELATED STORIES —Biological secrets of world's oldest woman, Maria Branyas Morera, revealed after death —Single molecule reverses signs of aging in muscles and brains, mouse study reveals —Silent X chromosome genes 'reawaken' in older females, perhaps boosting brain power, study finds To explore the biochemical underpinnings of these effects, the team took tissue samples from the mice and analyzed how the activity of their genes was affected by the two drugs. They found that not only did the mice gain separate benefits from the two different drugs but that, when used in combination, the drug cocktail influenced gene activity differently to when either drug was taken alone, according to the statement. The study highlights that these two drugs could be good candidates for geroprotectors, which are an emerging class of drugs aimed at delaying the onset of diseases and improving the health of older people. However, for now, the researchers plan to optimize the use of trametinib to maximize its benefits while minimizing side effects like weight loss and liver lesions. "Trametinib, especially in combination with rapamycin, is a good candidate to be tested in clinical trials as a geroprotector," co-lead author Sebastian Grönke, a senior postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, said in the statement. "We hope that our results will be taken up by others and tested in humans. Our focus is on optimising the use of trametinib in animal models."
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Anti-aging drugs extend lifespan in mice, spark hope for human longevity Excerpt (117 characters):
In a quietly remarkable advance from European researchers, a pair of existing cancer drugs rapamycin and trametinib have been shown to extend the lifespans of mice by up to 35 percent. The study, conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Germany, offers promising evidence that longevity-enhancing interventions might not only lengthen life but also delay the onset of age-related diseases. While rapamycin has long been studied for its life-extending potential in animals, trametinib was previously shown to increase the lifespan of fruit flies. The real revelation, however, came when the two drugs were combined. Mice given both compounds not only lived longer but also aged more gracefully exhibiting fewer tumours, reduced inflammation in multiple organs, and better heart and muscle health in old age. Female mice experienced median lifespan increases of nearly 35 percent, with males not far behind at 27.4 percent. Maximum lifespan gains were similarly impressive. Researchers attribute the effect to the drugs' distinct points of action within the Ras/Insulin/TOR pathway, which regulates growth and aging. Notably, no additional side effects were observed when the drugs were used together—an encouraging sign for future human applications. Linda Partridge, a geneticist and co-senior author of the study, noted that while humans shouldn't expect to add decades to their lifespans, the real value might lie in extending the period of life lived in good health. The study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that aging is not only modifiable but potentially treatable. With both drugs already approved for human use in the US and EU, clinical trials to test their anti-aging effects could begin soon.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Anti-aging drug cocktail boosts mouse lifespan by 30 percent, offers hope for human longevity
A recent study from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Germany has revealed that a combination of two existing drugs—rapamycin and trametinib—can extend the lifespan of mice by up to 30 percent. Not only did the mice live significantly longer, but they also remained healthier in old age, showing reduced inflammation, delayed tumour growth, and better overall physical function. This discovery could mark a major step forward in the pursuit of anti-ageing treatments for humans, offering hope that ageing-related decline can be slowed or even partially reversed in the future. What is the drug combination that boosts the lifespan of mice Rapamycin and trametinib are both known drugs primarily used in cancer treatment. Rapamycin has been used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients and has shown life-extending properties in animals. Trametinib, while less studied in larger animals, previously extended the lifespan of fruit flies. Scientists administered these drugs individually and in combination to hundreds of mice from the age of six months, then tracked their health and longevity. The combination therapy produced the most remarkable effects, with median lifespan increases of 34.9 percent in female mice and 27.4 percent in males. Drug Cocktail improved health, not just lifespan by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Importantly, the mice receiving the combination therapy did not merely live longer—they lived better. The treated animals experienced fewer age-related conditions such as liver and spleen tumours, and displayed significantly reduced inflammation in the brain, kidneys, muscles and spleen. They also retained more mobility and exhibited improved heart function. These results suggest that the treatment helps maintain a higher quality of life throughout old age, a key goal in the field of longevity research . Why this matters for humans Although these findings are based on animal models, they carry significant implications for human health. Both rapamycin and trametinib are already approved for medical use in humans in the United States and European Union, which could accelerate the path toward clinical trials for anti-ageing purposes. The fact that the combination targets different points in the same cellular pathway—the Ras/Insulin/TOR network—suggests a sophisticated synergy that enhances the benefits of each drug while limiting side effects. This gives scientists a strong foundation to begin evaluating their effectiveness in human ageing. Caution and next steps While the results are promising, researchers urge caution before assuming similar effects will be seen in people. Human biology is far more complex, and long-term use of these drugs could carry risks that are not evident in animal studies. Geneticist Linda Partridge, co-senior author of the study, emphasised that the goal is not necessarily to extend human lifespan dramatically, but to improve the quality of later life. Further studies and eventual human trials will be necessary to determine who might benefit and how best to apply the treatment. The future of anti-ageing research This study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that ageing can be manipulated through targeted medical interventions. As scientific understanding of cellular ageing deepens, the potential for developing treatments that slow or modify the ageing process becomes more tangible. With further research, the dream of living not just longer, but healthier lives into old age may one day become a reality for many.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Anti-Aging Cocktail Extends Mouse Lifespan by About 30 Percent
Scientists in Europe have tested an anti-aging drug cocktail in mice and found that it extended the animals' lifespans by around 30 percent. The mice stayed healthier for longer too, with less chronic inflammation and delayed cancer onset. The two drugs are rapamycin and trametinib, which are both used to treat different types of cancer. Rapamycin is also often used to prevent organ rejection, and has shown promise in extending lifespans in animal tests. Trametinib, meanwhile, has been shown to extend the lifespan of fruit flies, but whether that worked in larger animals remained to be seen. So for a new study, a research team led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute in Germany investigated how both drugs, on their own and together, could extend lifespan in mice. True to its reputation, rapamycin alone was found to extend the lifespan of mice by 17 to 18 percent. Trametinib wasn't too bad either, boosting longevity by 7 to 16 percent. But when their powers combined, treated mice saw a significant lifespan extension of around 26 to 35 percent. The extra time added to the animals' lifespans weren't merely offset by frailty and illness, though. The combo treatment delayed the growth of liver and spleen tumors in the mice, and reduced age-related inflammation in the brain, kidney, spleen, and muscle. The animals seemed to be more active at advanced ages compared to control mice, with reduced body weight and a slower decline in heart function. As intriguing as the results are, we shouldn't expect to be able to pop some pills and live to 130. Instead, the most promising aspect for human applications might be in improving the quality of our twilight years. "While we do not expect a similar extension to human lifespans as we found in mice, we hope that the drugs we're investigating could help people to stay healthy and disease-free for longer late in life," says geneticist Linda Partridge, co-senior author of the study. "Further research in humans in years to come will help us to elucidate how these drugs may be useful to people, and who might be able to benefit." To test the drugs, the researchers fed hundreds of mice regular doses of rapamycin, trametinib, or both from six months of age, and measured their survival for the rest of their lives. While benefits were seen from either drug alone, the best outcomes came from the combined treatment. Median lifespans were increased by 34.9 percent in female mice and 27.4 percent in males, while maximum lifespans increased by 32.4 percent in females and 26.1 percent in males. The team says that the benefits of the drug combo don't seem to be simply down to a higher dose. Although both drugs act on the same signaling pathway – known as the Ras/Insulin/TOR network – they target different points. When the researchers analyzed gene expression, they found certain changes only occur when both drugs are given. Importantly, no extra side effects were seen from combining the drugs, outside of those already known for each alone. Human trials for the drug combo could begin relatively soon. Both drugs are already approved for use in humans in the US and European Union, with anti-aging benefits hinted at in previous studies. Rapamycin, for example, seemed to extend the fertility of perimenopausal women by up to five years in one recent study. The research was published in the journal Nature Aging. Sudden Death Among Professional Bodybuilders Raises Health Concerns Microbe From Man's Wound Able to Feed on Hospital Plastic Exposure to Daylight Boosts The Immune System, Study Suggests
