Rapamycin may extend lifespan of older

by Poonam Singhal



Rapamycin extended the expected lifespan of middle-aged mice by 28 percent to 38 percent, revealed by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

In human terms, this would be greater than the predicted increase in extra years of life if cancer and heart disease were both cured and prevented.

Rapamycin, a compound first discovered in soil of Easter Island, after the island's Polynesian name, Rapa Nui – extended the expected lifespan of middle-aged mice by 28 percent to 38 percent.

The rapamycin was given to the mice at an age equivalent to 60 years old in humans.

The studies are part of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Interventions Testing Program, which seeks compounds that might help people remain active and disease-free throughout their lives. The other two centers involved are the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine.

The Texas study was led by scientists at two institutes at the UT Health Science Center: the Institute of Biotechnology (IBT) and the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies.

"I've been in aging research for 35 years and there have been many so-called ‘anti-aging' interventions over those years that were never successful," said Arlan G. Richardson, Ph.D., director of the Barshop Institute. "I never thought we would find an anti-aging pill for people in my lifetime; however, rapamycin shows a great deal of promise to do just that."

The new aging experiments found that adding rapamycin to the diet of older mice increased their lifespan. The results were the same in Texas, Michigan and Maine.

"We believe this is the first convincing evidence that the aging process can be slowed and lifespan can be extended by a drug therapy starting at an advanced age," said Randy Strong, Ph.D., who directs the NIA-funded Aging Interventions Testing Center in San Antonio. He is a professor of pharmacology at the UT Health Science Center and a senior research career scientist with the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Aging researchers currently acknowledge only two life-extending interventions in mammals: calorie restriction and genetic manipulation. Rapamycin appears to partially shut down the same molecular pathway as restricting food intake or reducing growth factors.


(Poonam Singhal -- sub-editor compiled and published Rapamycin may extend lifespan of older at HealthNewsTrack on July 8, 2009 sourced from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - http://www.uthscsa.edu/)

Aging - recent articles and current news stories:

- Memory, mental aging, cognitive decline can begin as early as age 45
- Older people happier in Brazil and South Africa
- Encouraging men to seek evidence based information of prostate cancer
- The Aging Myth by Joseph Chang is number 1 in 4 days
- HIV drugs may cause premature aging

Aging article/news source:

Read more health articles from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and health articles from USA.

Aging - search related terms:

Aging, Cancer, Easter Island Compound, Heart disease, Life, Lifespan, Rapamycin,
Aging books,

Subscribe to Health News by Email

List health news, Health organizations, Health news world, Glossary, Best health articles, Featured     Go to top

The information provided on Health Newstrack is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. We comply with the HONcode principles for trustworthy health information, and Health News Track is hon code accredited, verify here.
About us, Site map Privacy policy, Disclaimer
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 HealthNewsTrack.com
1.86