Mechanistic Finding May Help Deal with Side Effects of Lifespan-Extending Drug Rapamycin

February 10, 2015

(Medical Xpress) – Rapamycin, an FDA-approved drug, extends lifespan in mice up to 30%, making it of major interest to researchers intent on slowing the aging process in humans in order to extend healthspan, the healthy years of life. But long term use of rapamycin, approved for use in several disease indications, has side effects – raising questions about its use to prevent the chronic diseases of aging. In a study, now published online in Aging Cell, researchers at the Buck Institute have discovered new insights into how rapamycin inhibits the nutrient signaling pathway mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) – a finding that could provide a way to avoid or eliminate side effects of the drug.