Medical Expert Weighs In: Rapamycin's Role in Longevity

You might have heard about rapamycin, a drug that some people believe could help them live longer. Dr. Andrea Maier, an expert in internal medicine, has something to say about this. Although rapamycin is usually given to organ transplant patients to weaken their immune systems, some people think it could also slow down aging. One big supporter of this idea is Dr. Peter Attia, who has been taking the pill for years. But what does the science really tell us? Not much, according to Maier. She thinks rapamycin might have some good effects on aging bodies, but we just don't know enough yet. So, why all the excitement? A study from 2014 found that rapamycin made mice live over 20% longer. It also worked for fruit flies, worms, and even yeast! Some people claim they've lost weight, felt fewer aches, and even regrew gray hair. But we need more research to know if rapamycin is safe and effective for humans in the long run. Ever wondered how research discoveries happen? Well, sometimes, they start with tiny creatures like yeast. Scientists found that rapamycin made yeast live longer, and that led to trials with other organisms. This shows how important basic research can be. It might seem like a long way from yeast to humans, but every step matters in understanding how things work.