While regular exercise and a healthy diet are well-known methods for prolonging life, recently, many individuals have begun seeking prescription medications to enhance their lifespan and health. One such medication is rapamycin, which is usually given to patients before organ transplants to suppress the immune system, as explained by Dr. Andrea Maier, a specialist in internal medicine and longevity. Notable advocates for anti-aging, such as Dr. Peter Attia, highly endorse rapamycin for its effects on longevity and have personally used it for years. However, regarding the off-label use of rapamycin for extending life, Maier suggests that it may offer potential benefits for aging individuals. However, we still lack a lot of understanding. What initially drew the attention of people like Attia to the drug? A study conducted in 2014 revealed that rapamycin increased the lifespan of mice by over 20%. It has also been observed to prolong the lifespan of fruit flies and worms, but it first gained researchers’ attention by increasing the lifespan of yeast. Some users of the medication report that it has helped with weight loss, decreased body pain, and promoted the regrowth of dark hair that had turned gray, as reported by The New York Times. However, there is limited research confirming its efficacy or safety for prolonged use in humans. I find it highly improbable that we will ever have a medication suitable for everyone. – Dr. Andrea Maier. Expert in health and longevity. “My team is conducting experiments with rapamycin to determine if it can reduce the biological age of middle-aged people to help prevent diseases associated with aging later in life,” Maier explains. There are larger, more comprehensive clinical trials investigating rapamycin’s impact on human longevity by looking at its effects on common age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s. For those using rapamycin for unapproved reasons and not involved in a clinical trial, “I would advise extreme caution, as it is a highly powerful drug.”
