Rapamycin: A Potential Anti-Aging Drug
New medicines don’t always originate from sterile laboratories. In fact, sometimes scientists discover them in the dirt.
Rapamycin is a classic example. This medication was literally discovered within dirt samples, but it has since proven useful for treating an array of conditions.
Most recently, rapamycin has garnered attention as a potential anti-aging agent.
How Rapamycin Was Discovered
In 1972, a Canadian scientist named Suren Sehgal was working with his research team to collect soil samples from Easter Island.
From those samples, he and his team isolated a compound that was produced by bacteria in the soil. They named this compound “rapamycin”, after the native name for the island (Rapa Nui).
Eventually, researchers found that rapamycin had some valuable medical benefits. In particular, the FDA approved it in 1999 for use as an anti-rejection drug for transplant patients. It has also been used to treat some autoimmune diseases and some tumor-based cancers.
More recently, research on rapamycin has been focused on its anti-aging properties.
Benefits of Rapamycin Apart from Anti-Aging
The following are a few of rapamycin’s documented medical uses:
- Immunosuppressant
Rapamycin was first approved by the FDA to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients by inhibiting the activity of immune cells known as T-lymphocytes.
- Anti-Cancer Agent
Rapamycin limits activity on the mTOR pathway. Poor regulation of this signaling pathway has been linked to cancer formation. As a result, rapamycin and its associated compounds (known as rapalogs) have been used to treat certain cancers.
- Treatment for Other Tumor-Related Diseases
Rapamycin has shown promising results for the treatment of non-cancerous tumors that are formed due to genetic disorders such as tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).
How Rapamycin May Combat the Aging Process
Recent research suggests that rapamycin may provide powerful anti-aging benefits. These benefits include:
- mTOR Pathway Inhibition
The “mammalian target of rapamycin”, also known as the “mTOR signaling pathway”, regulates cell growth, metabolism, and aging. An uninhibited (or unregulated) mTOR pathway has been linked to the increased development of age-related diseases and a faster aging process.
- Longer Lifespans
A number of animal studies suggest rapamycin can increase lifespan by reversing or slowing the aging process.
- Improved Healthspan
Studies have tied rapamycin use to better overall health in combination with longevity, thereby improving healthspan simultaneous to improving lifespan.
- Autophagy
Research indicates that rapamycin stimulates autophagy (i.e. the removal of cellular components that are damaged or not functioning properly). The process of autophagy naturally diminishes with age, but rapamycin seems to encourage the body to continue this important process despite age.
- Mitochondrial Support
Mitochondria are responsible for producing energy within your cells. Rapamycin appears to support mitochondrial function as people age.
The Future of Rapamycin
Staying current on the latest in the way of promising anti-aging therapies can be challenging. You can count on Renew Youth to help separate fact from hype.
If you’re looking to age better, we’re here to help. Just call us at 800-859-7511 or use our contact form to schedule your free 30-minute consultation.
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