Rapamycin
Rapamycin is widely used by diabetics and others, but is being considered by the FDA as an anti-aging drug. Sirolimus, also known as rapamycin, is a macrolide compound that is used to coat coronary stents, prevent organ transplant rejection and treat a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis. It has immunosuppressant functions in humans and is especially useful in preventing the rejection of kidney transplants.
241231 GRG: Upregulation of NRF1 and NRF2 are probably the most powerful anti aging interventions possible today. Rapamycin, which has shown consistent anti aging results in multiple studies, inhibits mTOR and NRF2 is also inversely related to mTOR so when we activate NRF2 we inhibit mTOR without any potential side effects of rapamycin. A previous email in this chain shows incredible benefits from inducing NRF1 in MSCs. There are thousands of peer reviewed papers with similar benefits of NRF2 induction both of which reduce as we age. Here is a nice summary by Dr. Alexander Jimenez:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-benefits-nrf2-dr-alexander-jimenez-
But both should not be chronically induced. Just enough to make up for the loss due to aging.
2024 – from GRG discussion-Rapamycin is a bit of an odd exception here among supplements. The primary reason to cycle it (taking it e.g. once a week instead of daily) is because that’s the only reasonable way to prevent the excessive mTORC2 inhibition which is responsible for many of the negative effects of rapamycin when taken too frequently. Dosage of 5mg/week seems common choice.
Not taking rapamycin may be as dangerous as smoking
Strangely, the fear of tobacco smoking is less intense than the fear of rapamycin. But whereas smoking shortens both the healthspan and lifespan, rapamycin extends them. Smoking increases the incidence of cancer and other age-related diseases.
HOWEVER, It may accelerate Alzheimer’s. Researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) have found that oral administration of rapamycin to an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model causes an increase in beta (β)-amyloid protein plaques. β-amyloid buildup is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Added 241229 from GRG: rapamycin’s benefits extend beyond cancer prevention, as it delays the onset of multiple age-related diseases20. Rapalogs: As derivatives of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, rapalogs have demonstrated lifespan and healthspan extension in various model organisms20.
