The anti-aging craze is still going strong, but now it’s not just about appearance. Scientist have created 2 experimental drugs for boosting seniors’ immune systems.
Experimental Drugs Boosting Seniors Immune Systems
Before getting too excited, scientists have said that more research is needed before completely confirming the findings and making sure the drugs are safe.
The findings are based on a small group of people and used methods that could make misleading results.
This shouldn’t discourage you though.
What the Experimental Drugs Are
Researchers tested very low doses of 2 drugs. One is called RAD001 and is used to fight cancer and prevents organ transplant rejections. The other is BEZ235 and is a cancer drug.
Both of these drugs are known TORC1 inhibitors and affect a crucial cellular pathway that plays a role in the immune system and other biological functions. Similar drugs were connected to extending the lifespans of lab animals.
Researchers think this pathway could be the key to anti-aging treatments.
All About the Study
Researchers gave 264 people aged 65 or older different doses of 1 or 2 of these drugs or a placebo. They did this everyday for 6 weeks.
The researchers then followed up with the participants a year later to see how they faired. They also tested how their immune systems responded to a flu vaccine.
The participants who got the 2 drug combo reported 1.49 infections, like colds and bronchitis. The ones who got the placebo reported 2.41 infections. That’s around a 40% reduction.
The drugs also boosted how the seniors responded to a flu vaccines. This important because seniors are often the most vulnerable to the flu.
The most common effect of the drug was diarrhea, but it was somewhat mild.
Read more here.