Aging, it’s the one thing we are all sure to do but that doesn’t stop us from trying to hang on to the youth we already had. No magic elixirs to stay young forever are likely to be discovered any time soon, but science is uncovering compounds that, contrary to what everyone had thought, might actually be able to extend our healthspans.
The leading candidate is a compound that exists already and is used for something completely different to slowing down ageing: Rapamycin (Sirolimus), a substance used after organ transplants to suppress the recipient’s immune system.
How did Rapamycin go from a transplant drug to… an anti-aging darling? More importantly, can it help you age better? We’ll explore Rapamycin’s anti-ageing potential, deconstruct the science, and help you decide whether it’s something to keep an eye on.
Why This Article Matters
You’ve no doubt read plenty of hype around anti-ageing nutraceuticals and miracle cures before, but this is different. Rapamycin is the real deal. It is not a new skincare product or vitamin. It is a drug that digs deep into your cells, and might change the way your body ages.
Here, we will summarize the main findings, outline how Rapamycin works, and – most importantly – see what the research says regarding its potential risks and benefits. You’ll finish this article with a better idea of what makes Rapamycin such an attractive option for anti-aging.
What Exactly Is Rapamycin?
Drugs such as Rapamycin, chemically called Sirolimus, were first discovered in soil samples from Easter Island extracted in the 1960s. The drug was eventually developed into an immunosuppressant – used to stop the body from rejecting new organs in organ transplant patients.
The story of rapamycin discovery began in 1964, with METEI, the Medical Expedition to Easter Island (Rapa Nui). During this expedition, samples of the soil from different parts of the island were collected and, from this material, an antibiotic-producing microorganism (Streptomyces hygroscopicus) was identified (The Long Scientific Journey of Sirolimus (Rapamycin)).
Inhibiting the immune system, Rapamycin enables a patient’s body to accept a new organ in this particular context. However, as with other drugs that inhibit the immune system in a positive way, it has other effects in the body. One such effect is life-extension in animal studies.
The Key to Anti-Aging: mTOR Pathway
And to grasp why Rapamycin is such a big deal in the field of ageing research, we need to discuss something called the mTOR pathway (mammalian target of rapamycin). The mTOR pathway is your body’s most crucial controller of growth, cell repair and metabolism: when activated, it is growth-focused, whether muscle-building, cell-regeneration and energy use.
And as appealing as this might sound, the problem is that, like a car engine idling at full throttle, when mTOR is ‘on’ all the time it might be promoting rapid ageing and age-related disease. Rapamycin inhibits the mTOR pathway, putting your body into a mode where it repairs rather than grows.
What Does the Research Say?
Its efficacy as an anti-ageing drug was first discovered in animal studies, predominantly in rodents. In rodents, lifespan was increased in experiments where mice were given the drug, while those that didn’t receive any Rapamycin lived only half as long. The mice taking Rapamycin also seemed to have less encroaching manifestations of old age – better heart health, improved cognition and a reduced incidence of cancer.
The good news? These benefits were still seen when Rapamycin was given later in life, and it’s never too late to start.
1. Longevity in Animal Studies
Among the most widely cited papers on Rapamycin was one that showed mice given the drug lived longer than control mice, which had not been treated. That is a significant increase in lifespan, but could a similar effect be seen in human beings?
The control and rapamycin-treated mice were maintained identically both before and after the treatment period. Remarkably, the rapamycin treated mice lived up to 60 percent longer after the treatment was stopped, compared to the animals that received a mock control treatment (Brief Rapamycin Therapy in Middle-aged Mice Extends Lives).
2. Improved Health Span
Not just longer, but better. Rapamycin works by extending not only life span but health span, the time that we remain spry and free of serious disease or disability. In animal studies, mice treated with the drug fared agreeably well as they aged, developing fewer age-related maladies, with a lower incidence of cancer, heart disease and cognitive decline.
Furthermore, rapamycin has also been shown to improve memory and reduce anxiety and depression in several other mouse models that show cognitive deficits as well as in ‘normal’ mice (How longevity research can lead to therapies for Alzheimer’s disease: The rapamycin story).
3. Human Research Is Just Beginning
Although animal results are encouraging, in terms of human treatment there’s a long way to go. Early studies indicate that Rapamycin have some benefit, but human trials are in the early stages. One small human study found that a group of older adults given rapamycin had an improved response to a flu vaccine, perhaps suggesting that the drug could attenuate age-related immune decline.
How Rapamycin May Help Combat Aging
How does Rapamycin actually work to slow down ageing? The scientists think that these three key mechanisms are responsible:
1. Cellular Repair Over Growth
As Rapamycin’s suppression of the mTOR pathway shifts the body from a state of growth into a condition cells to spend more time fixing damage than generating new could slow the process of wear and tear that underlies ageing.
2. Reducing Inflammation
One drivers of both ageing and the diseases of ageing (ie, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and so on) is chronic inflammation. Since Rapamycin acts to decrease inflammation, it stands to reason that it might be able to reduce the impact of age-related diseases by protecting the body.
3. Autophagy: The Body’s Cleanup Crew
Having similar effects on autophagy, Rapamycin recruits this clean-up crew to break down and remove damaged cells so they can be recycled by the body. It ferries out all of the trash that accumulates as you get older, allowing you to function well for longer. By making autophagy more efficient, Rapamycin might get rid of damaged proteins and cellular components, such as mitochondria.
4. Mitochondrial Function
Our mitochondria, known as the ‘powerhouses’ of the cell, tend to decrease in their output as we grow older, contributing to fatigue, low energy and cellular dysfunction, because we can’t produce energy as efficiently as when we were younger. By enhancing mitochondrial function, rapamycin may enable cells to continue to function properly through the years.
The Potential Risks: Is Rapamycin Safe?
Though promising, there are risks and side effects associated with Rapamycin, given the fact that the drug was originally created as an immunosuppressant. Immunity suppression can expose you to infection and other health complications, so this is not a very good option for long-term use in healthy people.
The following are some of the possible Rapamycin side-effects:
- Increased risk of infection
- Mouth ulcers
- Elevated cholesterol levels
- Delayed wound healing
But doses of Rapamycin in anti-aging studies are typically far smaller than in organ transplant patients, so adverse effects could be far more modest.
Is Rapamycin an Anti-Aging Option for You?
But if you’re reading this and saying “Hey, that sounds good, but should I try Rapamycin?”—here’s the deal. Rapamycin’s anti-ageing potential sounds pretty promising, but it’s not something you can leap into blindly.
Who Should Try Rapamycin?
- Longevity scientists: If you love anti-ageing research and will track your health carefully, Rapamycin could be something to investigate in the future (with the consent of a physician).
- Aging-related diseases: Rapamycin could be an effective tool in the future for people with age-related diseases, such as some cancers or cardiovascular diseases, once research progresses.
Who Should Be Watchful?
- Younger healthy adults: We don’t know the long-term side effects of Rapamycin for healthy adults, so it’s probably not worth experimenting with unless you have some serious old age health issues.
- People with an immune disorder: Rapamycin works by affecting the immune system, so if you have a particular immune disorder then do not take it without consulting a doctor.
The Future of Rapamycin in Anti-Aging
So, don’t let anyone tell you that Rapamycin is just another anti-aging supplement. It is a serious drug with serious potential, accompanied by a serious need for more research before it can be used on a widespread basis. Even the preliminary research, however, shows that Rapamycin might be one of the most powerful anti-ageing interventions we have ever developed. It’s serious stuff.
If you wish to follow the excitement surrounding Rapamycin, keep an eye on new studies and remember to speak with your medical practitioner before you plan on consuming or injecting it. The future of anti-ageing science is bright and Rapamycin could well be among its best fighters.
If you’d like to try it on yourself, keep an eye on the emerging research and have a conversation with your physician. The future of anti-ageing science is bright, and Rapamycin could very well be one of the main stars in the constellation of rejuvenation.
Where to buy Rapamycin (Sirolimus 1mg)
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What’s Your Take?
What do you know about Rapamycin? Do you think it can extend your lifespan and keep you healthy and vital? If you have used it or are planning to, tell us about it here in the comments. What sort of future of ageing are you hoping for? You can also join in a lively discussion here.
