Rapamycin and Longevity: What the Research Really Says with Dr. Ben Bikman

In today’s episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Ben Bikman delivers a lecture focusing on the drug rapamycin and its impact on longevity.

The primary discussion revolves around the role of the protein complex mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) in the body's aging process. While rapamycin is often touted as a drug that can inhibit mTOR and thereby promote longevity, Ben emphasizes that much of this belief is based on animal studies and lacks solid human evidence. The mTOR pathway is involved in cell growth and protein synthesis, particularly in muscle tissue, making its inhibition controversial when it comes to aging and muscle maintenance.

Dr. Bikman highlights that some research suggests reducing mTOR activity by lowering protein intake might promote longevity. However, he pointed out that for older populations, higher protein consumption is correlated with reduced mortality, particularly from animal protein sources. This is especially significant when considering muscle mass, which has been consistently linked to longer lifespan. Inhibiting mTOR might impair muscle growth and maintenance, making rapamycin problematic for those aiming to preserve muscle health as they age.

In addition to discussing the potential benefits of rapamycin, Ben underscores its negative side effects, including immune suppression, increased triglycerides (which elevate the risk of heart disease), and the inhibition of muscle protein synthesis. He also raises concerns about the drug’s ability to reduce testosterone levels and hinder reproductive health in both men and women. Given that reproduction is a key element of both evolutionary theory and many religious doctrines, Dr. Bikman questions the wisdom of using a drug that compromises reproductive function.

Dr. Bikman concludes by connecting the role of insulin to mTOR activation. He argues that insulin has a much stronger effect on mTOR than dietary protein does, and prolonged elevated insulin levels, common in modern diets, keep mTOR constantly active. This chronic activation of mTOR may hinder longevity more than protein intake or rapamycin inhibition.

Instead of relying on drugs like rapamycin, Ben suggests that reducing insulin levels through dietary interventions like fasting may be a more effective and natural way to manage mTOR activity and promote healthy aging.

00:00 – Introduction: What is Rapamycin?
00:54 – mTOR and Its Role in Longevity
02:12 – Rapamycin in Human Studies: Risks vs. Benefits
03:38 – mTOR’s Influence on Muscle Health and Aging
04:46 – Protein Restriction and Longevity: The Controversy
06:00 – Autophagy: Why mTOR Inhibition Matters
08:17 – Rapamycin’s Effects in Animal Studies
09:12 – The Limits of Animal Studies for Human Health
11:24 – Rapamycin’s Negative Effects: Immune Suppression
14:54 – Rapamycin and Cardiometabolic Risks
17:02 – Muscle Atrophy and Rapamycin Use
19:06 – Rapamycin’s Impact on Testosterone and Reproduction
20:17 – The Purpose of Life: Reproduction vs. Longevity
24:19 – Rapamycin and Insulin Resistance
26:20 – Insulin’s Role in mTOR Activation
29:49 – Fasting: A Natural Alternative to Rapamycin
30:48 – Conclusion: Rapamycin, mTOR, and Insulin Control

References:

#Longevity #Rapamycin #AgingScience #mTOR #Healthspan #Autophagy #MuscleHealth #BenBikman #MetabolicHealth #HealthyAging #AntiAging #FastingBenefits #InsulinResistance #ImmuneHealth #ProteinSynthesis #HeartHealth #TestosteroneHealth #ReproductiveHealth #ScientificResearch #MetabolismMatters #BenBikman #DrBenBikman

[kellyb]

I need to live as long as possible to care for my disabled child. As of now I can't forsee him being able to care for himself. I plan to do that to the best of my ability through healthy lifestyle choices, not by relying on anything outside myself, while continuing to train him into self sufficiency. It's all i can do.

[murdermittensnyc]

Glad someone credible is tackling this! Thanks Dr Bikman.

[LoiolaALG]

Thank you, Ben, for this concise direct summary on Rapamycin.

I was skeptical of Rapamycin when I first learned of it as it was praised to no end for longevity. A quick check, however, showed that its primary use was suppressing the immune system for organ transplant recipients, primarily by inhibiting MTOR.

If inhibiting MTOR is the primary means that Rapamycin confers some longevity benefits, fasting can achieve the same. Autophagy likely confers most of the benefits of taking Rapamycin. Autophagy can be attained by fasting without the need to take Rapamycin. That was my conclusion.

Your going even farther than the above has helped reinforce and expand my understanding of Rapamycin. Thank you.

[KellyRyan-rl]

Thanks again, Dr. Bikman. The more I learn about metabolic health, the more I am convinced in the anthropological view that we must eat as we have evolved. It seems to me that modern society has drifted too far into the pharmacological intervention paradigm. This lecture proves the point to me once again.

[szghasem]

Dr. Bikman, the longevity community doesn't view protein as harmful. We prioritize muscle mass and health through regular exercise and adequate protein intake alongside rapamycin. The issue with rapamycin research is the lack of pharmaceutical funding due to its inability to be patented, which is why independent researchers are advancing this field.

While rapamycin may suppress immune function in high doses (as seen in transplant patients), there's evidence that it can reset the immune system in lower, carefully timed doses. This has been observed in studies showing improved vaccine responses after short-term rapamycin use. Though much remains unknown, its ability to recalibrate the immune system is a promising area of study.

[vikidevries]

Thank you so much!
I'm so happy to be part of the growing "parallel society ", which educate them self, and become healthy, strong&smart 💪🥰

[meatdog]

Again food is medicine and knowledge is power. This short lecture on MTOR is quite enlightening. I've been chasing the answers to healthy longevity for 3 years now and the MTOR discussions were never this clear. Thank you for the cited references so I can read and study this subject at a deeper level. Dr. Longo at UCLA does not discuss MTOR in h I s research that brought about tge Mimicking Fasting Diet. I have used his meals in tge past, but never got the results suggested in eating that food. My carnivore lifestyle has made all the difference.

[sobeyssobeys]

IMO, you have achieved immortality, not only through your children, but also through the excellence of your lectures, that’s how anyone achieves immortality, ie, through the excellence of his/her work.

[simonwiltshire]

1. Thumbs up. 2. Watch post. Thanks Ben.

[NickSheesenYT]

I reference you so often that autocorrect, when I type Dr., suggests Chaffee, Bikman and Bright.
You've such a clarity of thought it's refreshing.
Thanks Prof 🫡👍

[georgeelgin]

T A most valuable part of this discuss was why Animal results are a poor predictor of mechanisms within hominoids.

I had a discussion with a heart surgeon who said stents were sometimes coated with it.
However one working hypothesis is that MtorC1 and MtorC2 are addressed differently by low dosing:: ""Cellular processes: mTORC1 is more involved in cell growth and proliferation, while mTORC2 is more involved in cell survival and cytoskeletal organization.""

[sasharamirez]

Just wanted to mention that in another video with Ken Berry, hesitation to recommend fasting to older folks. This point is valid. I'm 55, and used a lot of actual fasting (not intermittent fasting), to lose weight. I felt better and clear headed during these fasts, and I indeed lose significant weight. I also lost significant muscle. Currently on healthy keto-vore, and aggressive resistance training to put muscle back on. Thank you, and really appreciate all you do.

[diablominero]

Some drugs have a nonlinear dose-response relationship. Tylenol is harmless in low doses and suddenly becomes very poisonous once you take enough to burn through all the glutathione in your liver. Nicotine is stimulating in low doses and sedative in higher doses.

Rapamycin advocates claim that the immune suppression only shows up in high doses of the drug. I haven't seen research one way or the other on that, but I feel like you're ignoring an important point of their argument by not addressing that assertion.

[DrJuliusG]

Peter Attia uses rapamycin, which indicates that I definitely should not use it.

[Roberto-cggr]

They say that the dose for transplant is too high compared with the small dose for longevity.

[Athenaikos]

Ben is making a good point. You want to live longer? Then bring your insulin down through fasting, lifestyle change, and exercise.

[yz]

It does seem like there’s some confusion here about the dosing of rapamycin for longevity. SUSTAINED levels of rapamycin in the body do suppress the immune system (great for organ transplantation). But short duration spikes of rapamycin do not have this effect and seem to (more research needed) strengthen the immune system.
Many people interested in longevity do only one or two courses of rapamycin (e.g. 6mg of rapamycin, once per week, for two months) to see benefits…often IN COMBINATION with fasting and/or ketosis.

Both fasting and rapamycin use can reduce insulin sensitivity, protein synthesis, testosterone production, and overall reproductive vigor (in the short term), but with the right dose and duration, may have profound long-term health effects.

I’m also curious to learn more about the other benefits of rapamycin not directly related to mTor (e.g. antifungal properties)

[vonticehembree]

WOW, just wow! The knowledge gained is so appreciated!

[dankabal]

I am really thankful for your time and kindness to share this information with us.

[bezoar]

Thank you for this informative video! You have validated my plan to just keep eating low carb, resistance training and intermittent fasting and I will save my money by not taking more meds!