Could we live as old as Rapamycin-injected mice?

William Atkins
Thursday, 09 July 2009 18:27

Science - Biology

The KENS5 article states, “The special diet extended the life of middle-aged mice by 28% to 38%, a finding that was so remarkable, it’s published in the current issue of the journal Nature. That life extension would be greater than the predicted increase in human life span if cancer and heart disease were both cured and prevented.”

For more information, please read the KENS5 (San Antonio, Texas) article “Aging breakthrough: Drug extends life span of mice.”

The U.S. team conclude, “To our knowledge, these are the first results to demonstrate a role for mTOR signalling in the regulation of mammalian lifespan, as well as pharmacological extension of lifespan in both genders."

And, "These findings have implications for further development of interventions targeting mTOR for the treatment and prevention of age-related diseases.”

Dr. Strong, one of the U.S. researchers in the study, stated, “There’s a saying in geriatrics, or in gerontology, that we die of the first thing that kills us. So if we delay the diseases of aging, then that would extend life span.” [KEN5]

According to the Nature News & Views article, “Longevity: Drug extends lifespan of mice,” Dr. Matt Kaeberlein and Dr. Brian Kennedy, both from the Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington USA, warn that "... healthy individuals should not consider taking rapamycin to slow ageing".