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The elixir of youth on primates has been shown to be safe
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Rapamycin is an immunosuppressant drug that scientists discovered several years ago has the ability to prolong the life of rodents. According to scientists, this drug is a kind of elixir of youth; experiments have shown that regular use prolongs the life of rodents, and the discovery aroused great interest in the entire scientific community.
Studies of the new drug were conducted in 2009, at that time specialists could not say whether Rapamycin was safe for long-term use or whether long-term use could lead to the development of metabolic side effects.
Since 2009, the effects of Rapamycin have been studied on monkeys, and scientists have recently stated that the unique anti-aging remedy may not pose a danger to the body with long-term use and causes minimal side effects.
The study involved healthy primates, to whom scientists administered age- and weight-appropriate doses of the drug over several years. As a result, the scientists found that the drug not only does not cause strong metabolic reactions, but is also well tolerated by primates. Lead author of the research project Corina Ross noted that experiments with monkeys, which acted as a scientific model of human aging, made it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment (which essentially looks like interference in human nature). One of the researchers who took part in the work notes that the results with primates are indeed encouraging; primates, despite some similarities with humans, are a unique and different model from humans, but it is primates that will allow us to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Rapamycin.
The National Institute on Aging has praised the work of Corinna Ross's research team and awarded the team a $2.7 million grant to conduct new research in this area, which is expected to begin as early as this month.
According to the chief specialist of the research department of molecular medicine of Barshop University, the work of his colleagues is undoubtedly an important step towards the development of new methods for prolonging human youth, delaying age-related diseases, and improving the health of elderly patients.
Rapamycin is now widely used in transplantology as an immunosuppressant. The drug helps prevent rejection of donor organs after surgery. Despite the fact that the drug is widely used in medicine, scientists continue to study its properties. It is worth noting that in addition to prolonging life, Rapamycin increases the risk of developing diabetes.
Experts discovered that the drug affects two proteins in the body, one of which helps to prolong life, while the other can provoke the development of diabetes. Then the scientists said that if they manage to block the drug's effect on the second protein, the likelihood of side effects will decrease several times.
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