Researchers from Oregon State University discovered new uses for Rapamycin compound aside from its anti-aging properties. Based on the study, this compound can help prevent disorders of the nervous system. It can also prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Assistant professor at OSU Viviana Perez considered rapamycin as a means to prevent senescence or the aging of cells. At this point, the cells stop multiplying. They also begin to secrete compounds that can make their environment toxic. Known as senescence-associated secretory phenotype or SASP, Left uncontrolled, this could trigger Alzheimer's diseases and those illnesses related to the nervous system, Science Daily reported.
However, although an effective measure against aging, one side effect of rapamycin is the increase of the body's resistance to insulin. This results to diabetes, which means that it cannot be fully used until a solution to the problem caused by its side effect will be found.
The anti-aging property of rapamaycin had been known for several years already. Just last month, a company applied for for license to make and sell two molecules of the drug and to apply it to postpone aging. The drug was derived from a bacterium found in Easter Island. Animals living in the island were known to have longer life than other animals, MIT Technology Review reported.
The discovery that this drug can help prevent Alzheimer's disease made rapamycin all the more valuable. To test whether this drug is effective in stopping the secretion of toxic fluids from old cells, the drug was tested on mice. It was observed that after mice were given the drug, they became more active. Their cardiovascular health also improved.
One setback with the use of this drug is its side effects. It was found to increase a person's resistance to insulin,, resulting to diabetes. Once this problem is resolved, more people would most likely benefit from the anti-aging drug.
Researchers from Oregon State University discovered new uses for Rapamycin compound aside from its anti-aging properties. Based on the study, this compound can help prevent disorders of the nervous system. It can also prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Assistant professor at OSU Viviana Perez considered rapamycin as a means to prevent senescence or the aging of cells. At this point, the cells stop multiplying. They also begin to secrete compounds that can make their environment toxic. Known as senescence-associated secretory phenotype or SASP, Left uncontrolled, this could trigger Alzheimer's diseases and those illnesses related to the nervous system, Science Daily reported.
However, although an effective measure against aging, one side effect of rapamycin is the increase of the body's resistance to insulin. This results to diabetes, which means that it cannot be fully used until a solution to the problem caused by its side effect will be found.
The anti-aging property of rapamaycin had been known for several years already. Just last month, a company applied for for license to make and sell two molecules of the drug and to apply it to postpone aging. The drug was derived from a bacterium found in Easter Island. Animals living in the island were known to have longer life than other animals in other parts of the world, MIT Technology Review reported.
The discovery that this drug can help prevent Alzheimer's disease made rapamycin all the more valuable. To test whether this drug is effective in stopping the secretion of toxic fluids from old cells, the drug was tested on mice. It was observed that after mice were given the drug, they became more active. Their cardiovascular health also improved.
One setback with the use of this drug is its side effects. It was found to increase a person's resistance to insulin,, resulting to diabetes. Once this problem is resolved, more people would most likely benefit from the anti-aging drug.
Researchers from Oregon State University discovered new uses for Rapamycin compound aside from its anti-aging properties. Based on the study, this compound can help prevent disorders of the nervous system. It can also prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Assistant professor at OSU Viviana Perez considered rapamycin as a means to prevent senescence or the aging of cells. At this point, the cells stop multiplying. They also begin to secrete compounds that can make their environment toxic. Known as senescence-associated secretory phenotype or SASP, Left uncontrolled, this could trigger Alzheimer's diseases and those illnesses related to the nervous system, Science Daily reported.
However, although an effective measure against aging, one side effect of rapamycin is the increase of the body's resistance to insulin. This results to diabetes, which means that it cannot be fully used until a solution to the problem caused by its side effect will be found.
The anti-aging property of rapamaycin had been known for several years already. Just last month, a company applied for for license to make and sell two molecules of the drug and to apply it to postpone aging. The drug was derived from a bacterium found in Easter Island. Animals living in the island were known to have longer life than other animals in other parts of the world, MIT Technology Review reported.
The discovery that this drug can help prevent Alzheimer's disease made rapamycin all the more valuable. To test whether this drug is effective in stopping the secretion of toxic fluids from old cells, the drug was tested on mice. It was observed that after mice were given the drug, they became more active. Their cardiovascular health also improved.
One setback with the use of this drug is its side effects. It was found to increase a person's resistance to insulin,, resulting to diabetes. Once this problem is resolved, more people would most likely benefit from the anti-aging drug.
