At the Max Planck Institute, scientists carried out research on two drugs – rapamycin and trametinib. Using mice, they studied the effects they had on lifespans and overall health. The results? The two increased longevity by a whopping 30% when used together. More specifically, female mice saw a 35% increase in median lifespan, and male mice experienced a 27% rise – both of which are quite significant.
Now, the drugs were also tested individually. However, they had nowhere near as successful of results. Rapamycin alone extended lifespan by around 17-18%, while trametinib only offered an increase of 7-16%. Thus, the combining of the two drugs and their respective effect is what makes this discovery profound.
So why exactly did we see as drastic of a result as we did? Well, researchers found that each drug acted on different points in key cellular communication pathways connected to aging. Rapamycin targets the mTOR protein, while trametinib interferes with the RAS/Mek/Erk pathway, both of which are responsible for cancer cell proliferation and aging processes. Thus, when used in tandem, the two drugs caused unique genetic changes in ways not found when used individually.
And the benefits didn’t just stop at an increased lifespan; the mice were actually far healthier – showing reduced chronic inflammation, fewer tumours, delayed cancer development, and they remained more active into old age thanks to improved function in key organs like the brain, kidneys, and heart.
Currently, the team is working to refine the use of Trametinib – aiming to maximize its benefits while minimizing side effects. “Trametinib, especially in combination with Rapamycin, is a good candidate to be tested in clinical trials as a geroprotector. We hope that our results will be taken up by others and tested in humans. Our focus is on optimising the use of Trametinib in animal models,” explains Sebastian Grönke.
Another thing being explored are pharmaceutical prospects. Since both medications are already approved for medical use in the US and EU, the results of the study means that the combination could be safe for further testing in humans. “While we do not expect a similar extension to human lifespans as we found in mice, we hope that the drugs we’re investigating could help people to stay healthy and disease-free for longer late in life,” study co-lead author Linda Partridge, a geneticist at University College London in the U.K. and the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne, Germany, said in a statement.
However, while the results are very promising, researchers warn that we should proceed with caution. Human biology is far more complex and multifaceted than that of lab rats, and long-term use could carry risks that aren’t evident in the studies conducted thus far.
As understanding of cellular aging deepens and medical innovation increases, this research ultimately serves as evidence that the potential for developing treatments that slow or modify the aging process become more and more tenable. This study could mark a great leap in aging research, possibly paving the way for more advanced targeted medical interventions.
Written by Saanvika Gandhari
