Mice Experienced a 30% Increase in Lifespan and Improved Health on This Drug Combination, Sparking Interest in Human Clinical Trials
Scientists may have made a significant stride towards improving the quality of life in older age, as they report an extension of mice lifespans by up to 35% through the use of a combination of two existing cancer drugs—rapamycin and trametinib. According to a new study, the treated mice not only lived longer but also aged more gracefully, exhibiting fewer signs of chronic diseases, inflammation, and better overall health.
Co-senior author and geneticist Dame Linda Partridge, who works at University College London and the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, said that while they don't anticipate similar lifespan extensions in humans, they hope the drugs could help people maintain good health and stay disease-free for a longer period.
The study, initiated by investigating whether two known "geroprotective" drugs, when combined, could be greater than the sum of their parts, has yielded promising results. The team at the Max Planck Institute fed hundreds of mice diets containing rapamycin, trametinib, or a mixture of both, starting when the animals were six months old (considered middle-aged for mice).
The results were striking, with the combined treatment boosting lifespan by 26% to 35%, surpassing the effects of either drug used alone. The treatment not only prolonged the mice's lives but also ensured they aged healthier, with better heart and brain function, a lower risk of cancer, and less inflammation.
Both drugs, rapamycin and trametinib, target the Ras/Insulin/TOR signaling network, a molecular system that controls growth and metabolism and has been linked to aging and age-related diseases. Rapamycin inhibits mTORC1, while trametinib blocks MEK proteins further down the pathway. The combination seems to impact this system from different angles, triggering gene expression changes that neither drug can produce on its own.
Lead author Sebastian Grönke explained that the combination significantly reduced tumors and inflammation compared to either drug used alone. Moreover, the drugs didn't increase the side effects already associated with either drug.
The significant outcomes could potentially open the door for clinical trials using rapamycin and trametinib as geroprotectors in the near future. Partridge added that their current focus is on optimizing trametinib’s dosing for animal models to balance its benefits with potential side effects.
"Aging is not just an inevitable decline. It is a biological process that can be studied and potentially slowed through targeted interventions," Partridge concluded. The research supports the idea that combinations of drugs acting on different points of the aging pathway may be more effective than any single treatment.
- The study, involving two known geroprotective drugs, rapamycin and trametinib, could provide a significant advancement in the field of health and wellness.
- The combination of rapamycin and trametinib has been found to be more effective than using either drug alone, potentially extending lifespans by up to 35%.
- The results of the study suggest that these drugs could help maintain good health and prevent disease in humans for a longer period, according to co-senior author Dame Linda Partridge.
- The drugs target the Ras/Insulin/TOR signaling network, a molecular system linked to aging and age-related diseases, and seem to have a synergistic effect, impacting this system from different angles.
- The combination of rapamycin and trametinib has shown to significantly reduce tumors and inflammation, with minimal additional side effects compared to each drug used alone.
- The research indicates that the future of medical-conditions treatment, particularly those related to aging, could involve the use of multiple drugs acting on different points of the aging pathway, rather than a single treatment.
- In the realm of education and self-development, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge about biology, science, and ecology, and encourages further research in the field.
- Fitness and exercise enthusiasts may also find this study interesting, as better understanding of aging and its potential reversal could lead to advancements in health and lifestyle practices.
- The general news about the use of rapamycin and trametinib as potential geroprotectors in the future is gaining attention in the scientific and medical communities, setting the stage for potential clinical trials and further exploration.
