“Drugs like rapamycin will help people live more than 100 years” (El Pais)

I just stumbled upon this article from 2020 (in Spanish, on the El Pais website).

Its a good interview on rapamycin with MIT /Broad Institute Professor David Sabatini (before Sabatini went down in flames, and I have no opinion on the veracity of the claims against him as I’m sure I don’t have all the facts). The interviewer is obviously well versed in science and the topic.

I don’t think I’ve seen a single interview / story on rapamycin in any English western press that is as balanced on rapamycin while describing the incredible potential of rapamycin …

Some excerpts:

The American scientist investigates the mechanism of action of an antitumor molecule that promises to extend the life of human beings

Ask. Rapamycin is often referred to in the press as “the miracle molecule.” Is that too much to say?

Response. I don’t know if it’s miraculous, but I think that rapamycin is one of the most interesting molecules that exist. It has clinical properties and is already used in medicine, because it is approved for many indications and possibly more will be added, such as aging. It also has interesting cultural connections, because it comes from Easter Island, Rapa Nui. It is a molecule that has many interesting dimensions. And if you look at the scientific literature, it seems that it does everything, it seems like a miracle. Let’s see if it’s true.

Q. You talk about future applications of rapamycin. Which?

R. I think there will be something, for sure, to slow down the deterioration associated with old age. I also think there will be nervous system implications, because some epilepsies are caused by mutations and activation of mTOR. I think those will be the first applications. I think that with time we will know how to send molecules like rapamycin to specific tissues. And that’s going to open up a lot of other possibilities: for example, targeting some diseases of the muscles, like the deterioration associated with old age.

P. Some experts, such as the Israeli doctor Nir Barzilai , believe that diseases associated with aging – cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular problems – could be delayed en bloc. What do you think?

R. I think so. And I think rapamycin is one of the best candidates out there.

P. To stop cancer, Alzheimer’s and everything at the same time?

A. To slow it down, not to stop it completely. We now see that many of these diseases of old age have some mechanisms in common, such as the deterioration of the immune system. Molecules such as rapamycin, which can prevent these processes, are possibly going to have an impact on many diseases. In animals it is seen, but we have to see how that translates to humans. In particular, humans who already live a healthy life, who don’t eat too much, who exercise. Let’s see if rapamycin helps those people too.

P. Do you think that in the future we will live more than 100 years thanks to rapamycin?

R. I think that thanks to medicine, a better diet, exercise and drugs such as rapamycin.

Q. Have you thought about taking rapamycin?

R. I have many friends who take rapamycin, but I have not considered it. Not yet. I do other things, like fasting. Not like for a while. I try not to eat breakfast, for example. Possibly, new versions of rapamycin will appear soon. We will see. But it is true that I have several friends who take it and are fine.

Here is the English Language version via Google Translate:

Full Spanish story here:

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Really like that interview. Whatever else, he’s acknowledged as a very smart guy.
I remember an interesting Attia podcast where he went with Sabatini and someone else to Easter Island. It was interesting, but I recall being surprising that only Peter actually took rapamycin. Maybe they’re too young.

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I do have an opinion. Sabatini got railroaded. A loss for science, though hopefully he’ll leave the USA and move to a less psycho country and get back to work.

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Warning!, Warning! Testosterone + whiskey ruin lives.

I’m sorry, not really trying to be funny, but so much has changed. From pauper to billionaire, it’s true, that with today’s attitudes that include such things as “micro-aggression”, everyone today must be aware that even minor infractions of current social codes can lead to disaster.

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This out today… Pew Research Center analysis of US Census data in January of last year found that just 0.03% of the US population was over 100.

I am getting ready for a huge bump when all of us rapamycin early adopters hit 100. :stuck_out_tongue::wink:

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Lol, don’t bet too much. We are an insignificant number of people, many of us using it wrong, and it will have barely measurable effects. I admit I’m not quitting it, but at this point I doubt much is happening.

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I’m sure individual results will vary; but its the best thing we have right now (and likely for the next decade given the slow pace of progress for new pharmaceuticals). Personally - I think it will help keep my healthy to 110+ (at least 10 years more than my family average lifespan).

Its a key piece in my longevity strategy right now, and I suspect for quite a long time.

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RapAdmin, I’m sure you agree that increased lifespan without extended brain health is pointless. High functioning at 100 is utterly different than vegetating off an IV drip at 100.

What I’m getting at is that in exercising the body, we should not neglect exercising the brain. There is so much emphasis on molecules like rapamycin, but let us not neglect the intellect.

One of the best ways of keeping the brain in shape, is to pick a strongly beneficial skill. It has been proven that learning another language is highly beneficial for brain health and functioning. You already know Spanish, so you might benefit from learning a non-Romans language like, say, German. Another very effective skill, is learning a musical instrument. You already play the flute, so you could pick up a non-wind instrument, like piano or some other keyboard based instrument. You already get a lot of intellectual stimulation from reasearching medical papers, so you might start researching ancient Roman history. And so on.

Just a reminder for all of us, that it’s never too late to start exercising your body, but it’s perhaps even more important to exercise your brain, and it’s never too late to learn a new skill, pick up a language, instrument and the like. The point is not to win an Olympic gold, or become a concert pianist, but to regularly use your body and your brain.

And then, rapamycin will deliver good quality extra years😁.

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I’m not criticizing your point that exercise is good for the brain, but learning a language you don’t use is like Brian Johnson pushing a sled across the yard. I say this as a guy who runs, and I know it’s useless but it’s the only thing I find that stresses my heart and lungs like they need. I can do better.

An intellectual hobby that produces something useful is so much easier to stick with over time. A physical hobby that stresses the body is so much easier to stick with. Pushing the sled is not right. We can find better things to do.

Yes - good news. I wonder what percent of the centenarians will be rapamycin users in 20 years?

The number of Americans ages 100 and older is projected to more than quadruple over the next three decades, from an estimated 101,000 in 2024 to about 422,000 in 2054, according to projections from the U.S. Census Bureau. Centenarians currently make up just 0.03% of the overall U.S. population, and they are expected to reach 0.1% in 2054.

Hopefully men and other racial groups do a lot better going forward:

And it helps to live in Japan, where the rate of centenarians is highest:

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You make a good point. However, it needs to be tightened up. For example, if you pick your language well, you can certainly derive other benefits. I gave the example of German. If you learn German, you will get access to a rich culture in the native tongue - literature, film, music - all things I for one enjoy. If you are not into that, you might appreciate much greater options for richer experiences should you travel to that country. I travel to Europe frequently. I can agree with you if one were to pick some obscure language with few speakers with little written works or prominent cultural assets, in a region you are unlikely to ever visit. Choose wisely.

It is also partially personality driven. I happen to score highly on the conscientiousness trait. It means I will stick with an activity regardless of its hedonistic value. I hate exercise. But I will do it just because I know it’s what I’m supposed to do for my health. That is enough for me, and I need no further motivation or bribe to get me to do my duty to my health. I exercise diligently, hating every second of it, and have done so for decades. I don’t miss medication doses. I am highly disciplined with my diet. I undergo medical tests, procedures, vaccinations, dental visits and so forth. I turn in my work on time and am very reliable. If it were shown that learning to knit were essential for health, I would do that even though I have zero interest in knitting.

I don’t believe I am the only one. People like me - and I bet we are overrepresented on this site - need little other than a speculative promise of health benefits to stick to any given activity… I did CR for many years with no problem, until social/practical reasons made me stop.

In short - different strokes for different folks. YMMV.

Holy shit, your average family member is living to almost 100? That’s remarkable.