For centuries, medical scientists have been searching – with little success – for the proverbial “Fountain of Youth” to extend the human life span. While there isn’t a fountain, so to speak, scientists have found a drug that could act the same way. In 2009, scientists made a breakthrough and discovered that rapamycin, a drug used in cancer treatment, could significantly extend longevity in mice by interfering with the activity of a protein called mammalian TOR, or mTOR.
According to Scientific American, this finding is the most compelling evidence yet that mammalian aging can be slowed pharmaceutically. It is also spurring subsequent research that could lead to medicines that delay or even mitigate aging-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and heart failure.
What is Rapamycin and What Are Its Effects?
Rapamycin is a drug that inhibits TORC1, an enzyme in the body that regulates cell growth and metabolism and suppresses the immune system. That’s why rapamycin was originally approved by the FDA in 1999 as an immunosuppressant drug for patients who have received organ transplants.
In addition, however, rapamycin has been shown to delay aging and extend the lifespan of several animal models when it is administered lifelong. For example, when tested on mice, the drug has decelerated cognitive decline, cancers, cardiovascular aging, and immune impairment that is related to age, and has promoted elongation of lifespan. In fact, rapamycin has been shown to slow down the onset of many age-related diseases and produce life extensions ranging from 25-60 percent.
Based on these improvements in health and lifespan in animal trials, scientists are confident that rapamycin will show encouraging results in human studies with short courses of the drug, leading to improved immune responses in older people.
According to Mikhail V. Blagosklonny, Ph.D., a noted professor of oncology and cell stress biology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York:
“Rapamycin is a proven anti-aging drug. The evidence that rapamycin can function as an anti-aging drug is the product of thousands of scientists working independently all over the world, studying mTOR and its inhibitors in diverse organisms, ranging from yeast to humans. The overwhelming evidence suggests that rapamycin is a universal anti-aging drug – that is, it extends lifespan in all tested models from yeast to mammals, suppresses cell senescence, and delays the onset of age-related diseases, which are manifestations of aging.”
Although rapamycin is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a life-extension drug, it can still be prescribed “off-label” for life-extension therapy. In fact, at North Dallas Wellness Center, rapamycin is at the center of our innovative and comprehensive life extension program that also includes telomere testing, prescription co-enzymes, antioxidants, lifestyle detoxification, and potent nutraceuticals.
Life Extension Therapy in Dallas, TX
If you are interested in learning more about rapamycin and including life extension therapy as part of your anti-aging treatment plan, contact North Dallas Wellness Center at (214) 696-3885 to schedule an appointment with Dr. David Fein, who specializes in health and wellness, weight management, and anti-aging programs. With each and every patient, Dr. Fein strives to provide the time, respect, and attention that they deserve, offering a level of personalized care that is rarely seen in today’s medical offices. Don’t wait to schedule an appointment today!
