Rapamycin, a drug typically used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients, has gained attention recently for its potential anti-aging properties.

It’s unclear if the drug will have the same effect in humans, but some researchers believe that rapamycin may slow cellular aging.

“A mouse, obviously, is not a human, but there is a lot of really excellent work that has been done in these pre-clinical animal models. It really sets the stage that there is proof of concept that aging can be modified with rapamycin,” saidAdam Konopka, PhD, MS, an assistant professor of geriatrics and gerontology who researches rapamycin at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Almost every animal species tested with rapamycin so far has lived longer, Konopka added.

Recent estimates suggest that about 2,000 people in the United States currently use the drug off-label in hopes of improving lifespan or reducing age-related diseases.

What’s the Research on Rapamycin?

There’s not enough data on whether rapamycin can improve longevity in humans, but some researchers are testing the drug for different anti-aging purposes.

A team at Columbia University is investigating if rapamycin can delay menopause, and researchers at the University of Washington are exploring theconnection between rapamycin and periodontal disease.

“Our group and others believe it’s really the process of aging that’s putting people at higher risk of getting the gum disease,” saidJonathan An, DDS, PhD, an assistant professor of oral health sciences and faculty in the Healthy Aging and Longevity Institute at the University of Washington.

An, who is directing the periodontal disease study, wants to learn how rapamycin could help older adults manage their oral health, especially since current gum disease treatments pretty much stay the same regardless of age. But he will also monitor other effects the drug has on participants.

“We’re hoping to get a lot of data just to show what rapamycin does to humans, because I think that’s what’s really missing now, other than anecdotal evidence,” An said. “We’re hoping to answer a lot of questions at the same time.”

Is It Safe To Take Rapamycin?

Rapamycin—under the name Rapamune (sirolimus)—suppresses the immune system in people receiving kidney transplants so the body doesn’t reject the new organ. However, this can increase the risk of certain infections and cancers.

Other rapamycin side effects include headache, chills, joint pain, diarrhea, or nausea.

“The most common one that I hear about is mouth sores or canker sores that develop,” An said.

He added that high doses cause more severe mouth sores. People taking lower doses—like the amounts used in aging-related research—typically don’t experience the same side effects.

A 30-Second Balance Test Can Indicate How Well You’re Aging, Study Shows

Will Rapamycin Really Help You Live Longer?

Despite the lack of human clinical trials, some people already take rapamycin to boost longevity. A recent survey of 333 off-label rapamycin users found that anti-aging was the most common reason people took the drug. Survey respondents also said they feel more youthful, confident, and calm since starting rapamycin.

However, researchers still have a lot to learn before they can say if rapamycin extends human lifespan.

“People are really enthusiastic about the potential of rapamycin, because most of the animal data are really, really powerful,” Konopka said. “Now we’re finally at the stage where we are translating that information and testing it in humans.”

What This Means For YouRapamycin shows promise in slowing aging in animal studies, but research in humans is still limited. The drug is not FDA-approved for anti-aging use.

What This Means For You

Rapamycin shows promise in slowing aging in animal studies, but research in humans is still limited. The drug is not FDA-approved for anti-aging use.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Miller RA, Harrison DE, Astle CM, et al.Rapamycin‐mediated lifespan increase in mice is dose and sex dependent and metabolically distinct from dietary restriction.Aging Cell. 2014;13(3):468-477. doi:10.1111/acel.12194

Konopka AR, Lamming DW, RAP PAC Investigators, et al.Blazing a trail for the clinical use of rapamycin as a geroprotecTOR.GeroScience. 2023;45(5):2769-2783. doi:10.1007/s11357-023-00935-x

National Library of Medicine.Effect of rapamycin in ovarian aging (rapamycin).

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Sirolimus.

Kaeberlein TL, Green AS, Haddad G, et al.Evaluation of off-label rapamycin use to promote healthspan in 333 adults.GeroScience. 2023;45(5):2757-2768. doi:10.1007/s11357-023-00818-1

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