Rapamycin Slows Aging in Mice

Overview

Journal Aging Cell

Specialties Cell Biology
Geriatrics

Date 2012 May 17

PMID 22587563

Citations 391

Authors

John E Wilkinson

Lisa Burmeister

Susan V Brooks

Chi-Chao Chan

Sabrina Friedline

David E Harrison

James F Hejtmancik

Nancy Nadon

Randy Strong

Lauren K Wood

Maria A Woodward

Richard A Miller

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Rapamycin increases lifespan in mice, but whether this represents merely inhibition of lethal neoplastic diseases, or an overall slowing in multiple aspects of aging is currently unclear. We report here that many forms of age-dependent change, including alterations in heart, liver, adrenal glands, endometrium, and tendon, as well as age-dependent decline in spontaneous activity, occur more slowly in rapamycin-treated mice, suggesting strongly that rapamycin retards multiple aspects of aging in mice, in addition to any beneficial effects it may have on neoplastic disease. We also note, however, that mice treated with rapamycin starting at 9 months of age have significantly higher incidence of testicular degeneration and cataracts; harmful effects of this kind will guide further studies on timing, dosage, and tissue-specific actions of rapamycin relevant to the development of clinically useful inhibitors of TOR action.

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