Can a Drug Slow Aging? The Rapamycin Story

Abstract: Aging is the single greatest risk factor for most chronic diseases, yet historically it has not been treated as a modifiable biological process. Over the past two decades, discoveries in the biology of aging have challenged this assumption. Among the most compelling findings is the observation that the drug rapamycin, originally discovered in soil bacteria from Easter Island and developed as an immunosuppressant, can extend lifespan and improve healthspan metrics in multiple laboratory species. These discoveries led to the identification of the mTOR signaling pathway as a central regulator of aging biology. In this talk, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein will provide a historical overview of the scientific journey linking mTOR and rapamycin to the biology of aging. He will discuss key discoveries that established mTOR inhibition as one of the most robust interventions for extending lifespan in laboratory models. The lecture will also examine emerging evidence from companion animals and humans, including what we know—and what we still do not know—about rapamycin’s potential effects on healthy aging in people. Finally, Dr. Kaeberlein will place these findings in the broader context of geroscience and the growing effort to target the biology of aging as a strategy to delay or prevent multiple age-related diseases simultaneously.