The Wall Street Journal published this story on Monday, May 1: Can a Kidney Transplant Drug Keep You From Aging? They are talking about rapamycin. Rapamycin is a naturally occurring antibiotic made by bacteria that was discovered on Easter Island. Rapamycin inhibits a master metabolic genetic switch called the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). That switch is essential to fetal and childhood development. It coordinates the food supply with fetal and childhood development. If mTOR malfunctions in the fetus, the fetus dies early on. For simplicity, lets call this the food-growth switch.
If I'm reading right, metformin is great in both directions: directly inhibiting mTOR, and directly switching on AMPK. Also lots of other good suggestions.
That's right. Metformin does the same thing as rapamycin with many fewer side effects and a cost of $4 a month. We have 50 years of experience with this drug. Inhibiting mTOR and activating AMPK is the common denominator of drugs that have a greater impact than others used to treat conditions like diabetes.
The mTOR inhibiting function of rapamycin is remarkable. Not only does it look like it will potentially extend life and suppress cancer growth it has also been shown to improve member in older rats given rapamycin. The potential for this could be absolutely huge.
That makes sense. mTOR and AMPK signaling are central to aging and chronic illness generally. Lisinopril, losartan, spironolactone, metformin, and Jardiance all impact this axis.
Maybe not. But they would be more likely to prescribe metformin for prediabetes and diabetes, statins for high cholesterol, lisinopril, losartan, spironolactone, or eplerenone for hypertension. Taking metformin certainly makes more sense than taking rapamycin.
That is a very generous comment. Many Americans understand that most of the things that we love about life depend on health. When you lose your health, sometimes there are severe limitations. There is enough good, hard science to enable longer, healthier lives NOW!!
If I'm reading right, metformin is great in both directions: directly inhibiting mTOR, and directly switching on AMPK. Also lots of other good suggestions.
That's right. Metformin does the same thing as rapamycin with many fewer side effects and a cost of $4 a month. We have 50 years of experience with this drug. Inhibiting mTOR and activating AMPK is the common denominator of drugs that have a greater impact than others used to treat conditions like diabetes.
The mTOR inhibiting function of rapamycin is remarkable. Not only does it look like it will potentially extend life and suppress cancer growth it has also been shown to improve member in older rats given rapamycin. The potential for this could be absolutely huge.
https://mattcook.substack.com/p/how-to-stop-and-slow-down-dementia
That makes sense. mTOR and AMPK signaling are central to aging and chronic illness generally. Lisinopril, losartan, spironolactone, metformin, and Jardiance all impact this axis.
Not sure I can get a doctor in Australia to prescribe metformin to fit and healthy people!
Maybe not. But they would be more likely to prescribe metformin for prediabetes and diabetes, statins for high cholesterol, lisinopril, losartan, spironolactone, or eplerenone for hypertension. Taking metformin certainly makes more sense than taking rapamycin.
That is a very generous comment. Many Americans understand that most of the things that we love about life depend on health. When you lose your health, sometimes there are severe limitations. There is enough good, hard science to enable longer, healthier lives NOW!!
I truly appreciate your writing on this. I learn so much from you!!!! Thank you and here is to health!