A drug intended to prevent an immune system from rejecting a transplanted kidney may also slow down the processes of aging, new research suggests.
The immunosuppressant drug rapamycin, also known as sirolimus, is already being prescribed off-label as a means of extending longevity, said study co-leader David Peterson, a Northwestern University geneticist.
"The compound has been demonstrated to extend the lifespan of animals by targeting a key cellular pathway, mTOR, and could thus be relevant for developing treatments to prevent diseases associated with aging in humans," according to Dr. Andrea B. Maier, a professor in healthy aging and dementia research at the Director of the Centre for Healthy Longevity at the National University of Singapore.
Maier recently co-authored a review study that looked at the impacts of rapamycin on healthy humans.
The medication improved the effects of aging on skin, according to a review published in Lancet Healthy Longevity.
"It enhances the immune function and cardiovascular function in healthy people or patients with aging-related diseases," Maier said via email.
Daniel Tawfik is a molecular biologist and co-founder of Healthspan, a digital medical clinic with anti-aging and longevity-promoting therapies. According to him, his team uses rapamycin that slows down the rate of aging.
"This can be viewed in terms of reducing the accumulation of senescent cells that are damaged, said Tawfik based in California, Santa Monica, Fox News Digital.
These cells are dysfunctional but remain in the body. They lead to tissue degradation and inflammation, according to the expert.
At the tissue level, it can slow the process of aging by slowing the rate at which healthy cells transform into senescent cells, he said.