Study Explores Impact of Rapamycin on Exercise in Older Adults

A recent study conducted in New Zealand has examined the effects of the drug rapamycin on exercise outcomes in older adults, revealing that the drug may not enhance exercise benefits and could potentially have adverse effects. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 40 sedentary adults aged 65 to 85 years, who participated in a 13-week home exercise program while receiving either a low dose of rapamycin or a placebo ^[1][2].

The primary outcome of the study was the change in participants’ performance on the 30-second chair-stand test. Results indicated that the rapamycin group did not show enhanced functional gains compared to the placebo group. In fact, sensitivity analyses suggested that the placebo group had statistically significant better outcomes on this test (complete-case p = 0.045; per-protocol p = 0.007) ^[1][2].

Secondary outcomes, including six-minute walk distance, grip strength, and quality-of-life scores, also trended in favor of the placebo group, although these differences did not reach statistical significance ^[1][2].

The study, published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, reported a higher total burden of adverse events in the rapamycin group, with 99 events compared to 63 in the placebo group. One serious adverse event, pneumonia, was possibly related to the drug ^[1][2].

In related research, studies on animals have shown varying results. In female mice, intermittent dosing of rapamycin preserved exercise-induced muscle and endurance gains while minimizing negative metabolic side effects compared to frequent dosing ^[3]. In an aging rat model, rapamycin improved grip strength and attenuated age-related decline in maximal running distance ^[4].

What Is Known

The trial in New Zealand provides evidence that rapamycin may not enhance exercise benefits in older adults and may be associated with a higher incidence of adverse events. Animal studies suggest that the effects of rapamycin can vary depending on dosing frequency and the specific model used ^[1][2][3][4].

What Remains Unclear

It remains unclear whether the findings from animal studies can be directly translated to humans. Additionally, the potential impact of rapamycin on other biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein, requires further investigation, as current data is inconclusive ^[1][2][3].