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4. Can Drugs Reverse or Delay Aging?

So far, no anti-aging treatment has been approved by the FDA yet. However, more than 100 companies are working on anti-aging solutions. About 28 of them are being tested in human clinical trials. Among the drugs tested for anti-aging effects are some of the existing medications designed initially to treat other conditions. It is only a matter of time until one of these treatments will become available to us. Two of the most promising drugs in the race of anti-aging therapy are metformin and rapamycin.

4.1

Metformin

Metformin

Metformin is an FDA-approved drug for treating type-2 diabetes due to its effects in decreasing glucose production, absorption, and increasing insulin sensitivity. Studies have found that other than prevention of type-2 diabetes, metformin can also prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia and reduce all-cause mortality. The Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) trial received approval from the FDA in 2019, as the first human trial to target aging.

The dosage used in the TAME trial is 1500mg per day. There are two main concerns associated with metformin. The first is that metformin may cause Vitamin B12 and B6 deficiency. The second is that metformin may cause a decline in cardiovascular fitness in exercise. It may not be a good idea to take metformin on the days that you are working out. Metformin is a prescription drug, and patients must consult their doctors before taking it.

4.2

Rapamycin

Rapamycin

Rapamycin is another drug that is strongly believed to have anti-aging effects. It is the first pharmacological agent found to impact aging when given later in life. Rapamycin works through a protein called the target of rapamycin (TOR) to regulate the cell's responses to nutrients, growth factors, and energy status. Since rapamycin was found to extend the lifespan of mice in 2009, many studies in mice have shown that rapamycin is effective against cancer, cardiac diseases, and brain aging. The FDA approved rapamycin in 1994 to prevent organ rejection in transplantation, and later greenlighted its use for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Scientists have proposed a clinical trial to test its anti-aging effects on humans.

It is certain that pharmaceutical agents targeting aging will be available in the coming years. If these are able to extend our lifespans and healthspans significantly, the anti-aging industry can be expected to see huge growth.

Sources

  • Glossmann H. H., Lutz O., 2019. Metformin and Aging: A Review. Gerontology. 65:581-590. https://doi.org/10.1159/000502257
  • Selvarani R., Mohammed S., and Richardson, A. 2020. Effect of rapamycin on aging and age-related diseases—past and future. GeroScience. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-020-00274-1
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