Rapamycin Trials May Lead to Longer Life for Dogs
Researchers at the University of Washington Medical Center are researching whether the drug rapamycin can be used to extend dogs' life spans.
What Is Rapamycin?
Rapamycin was discovered in the late 1960s. It was isolated as a compound produced by bacteria found in the soil of Easter Island. It was found to suppress the immune system and is used in organ transplant patients to reduce rejection.
How Could Rapamycin Work to Increase a Dog's Life Span?
Rapamycin interferes with the cell reproduction process, which may have applications for fighting cancer. It also may cause slower aging. The drug also improves the body's waste removal processes, which keeps these toxins from affecting healthy cells.
Studies in mice indicate that the drug can slow aging, improve cardiac and cognitive function, and delay death.
The study in dogs will hopefully tell us whether these special effects can translate to species other than mice.
Could Humans Live Longer by Taking Rapamycin?
At this point, it's too early to tell whether there may be human longevity-related applications for rapamycin. The side effects may not outweigh any benefits, and there would need to be a lot more research.
However, because dogs age faster than humans, research can be done more quickly on them. If the dog trials show promise for increasing life span, the door may be opened to researching this aspect of the drug on humans, as well.
You can find more details about this important study here: dogagingproject.com/project-details
You May Also Like These Articles:
Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: Senility in Dogs
Play Bow: What Does This Common Dog Behavior Mean?
Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at DogHealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site. Just Answer is an external service not affiliated with DogHealth.com.
Notice: Ask-a-Vet is an affiliated service for those who wish to speak with a veterinary professional about their pet's specific condition. Initially, a bot will ask questions to determine the general nature of your concern. Then, you will be transferred to a human. There is a charge for the service if you choose to connect to a veterinarian. Ask-a-Vet is not manned by the staff or owners of DogHealth.com, and the advice given should not delay or replace a visit to your veterinarian.
