Is Rapamycin New Life-Extending Drug?

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - A new drug, whose beginning can be traced to Easter Island, has been shown to extend the lifespan of mice. The drug is already used by transplant recipients to prevent the rejection of new organs.

Rapamycin is a bacterial product originally found in a soil sample from Easter Island. The name, rapamycin, is derived from the island's Polynesian name, Rapa Nui. One significant find in the study was that though the treatment did not start until the mice were fairly old - 600 days of age which is equivalent to about 60 years of age for people - the lifespan of the treated animals was extended by 9 percent to 14 percent.

Researchers strongly warn that people should not try this treatment at home, as it is not known whether rapamycin slows aging in people, and any drug that suppresses the immune system should be used with much caution. But it is hoped that the findings will lead to the development of interventions for the treatment and prevention of age-related diseases.

The finding was reported Wednesday in Nature by researchers at three institutions. The teams were led by David E. Harrison of the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine; Richard E. Miller of the University of Michigan; and Randy Strong of the University of Texas Health Science Center.

The teams were sponsored by the National Institute of Aging as part of a program to test possible anti-aging drugs.

"It's no longer irresponsible to say that following [this research] up could lead to medicines that increase human life span by 10, 20 or 30 percent," Dr. Miller said in The New York Times .