What is the Clinical Evidence to Support Off-Label Rapamycin Therapy in Healthy Adults?

Authors: HANDS, JACOB - George Washington University; LUSTGARTEN, MICHAEL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; FRAME, LEIGH - George Washington University; ROSEN, BRADLEY - The George Washington University School Of Medicine And Health Sciences

Submitted to: Aging
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2025
Publication Date: 8/7/2025
Citation: Hands, J.M., Lustgarten, M., Frame, L., Rosen, B. 2025. What is the Clinical Evidence to Support Off-Label Rapamycin Therapy in Healthy Adults?. Aging. 17(8):2079-2088. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206300.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206300

Interpretive Summary: In animal models, the prescribed medicine rapamycin extends lifespan, which has led many generally healthy adults to take rapamycin. But, is this a safe approach? In this review, we summarize the human rapamycin-focused studies, and while the results are promising, we propose caution, with a need for more clinical research to help identify whether taking rapamycin in generally healthy adults will be a safe and potentially effective approach for improving health and lifespan.

Technical Abstract: Low dose rapamycin therapy has been tested as a potential longevity candidate in healthy aging adults. While numerous preclinical models support this concept, there is a dearth of clinical evidence critically evaluating this question. We present a narrative review of the current evidence for low dose rapamycin and rapalogue therapies in healthy human adults and model the findings of one cohort study using a validated biological age model. What emerges is an understanding of promise, but mitigated caution, with signals suggesting the potential for benefit with low-dose rapamycin therapy and others that could signify detriment in the absence of further research and clinical context.