Summary
In this podcast episode, doctors Joan Manick and Nir Barzilai discuss the potential benefits of the drugs metformin and rapamycin in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and other infections, as well as COVID-19 morbidity. Joan talks about her study on rapamycin's effect on the immune system, which showed that it could extend life and enhance immune function, but could also impair the adaptive immune system in a subset of humans. The episode covers the clinical indications for metformin and rapamycin in relation to immune response, resilience, and the amelioration of a hyperactive immune response in the presence of diseases.
The conversation touches on the use of metformin in aging research, with the drug showing potential in increasing lifespan and preventing age-related diseases. The speakers discuss the potential immune enhancement of both metformin and rapamycin, particularly in improving the response to vaccines in older adults. The enhanced response is attributed to the improvement of innate immunity, which brings in the adaptive T and B cells to respond to antigens.
The discussion also delves into the potential benefits of mTOR inhibitors in enhancing immune function, particularly in older individuals, and the implications for developing vaccines for COVID-19. The speakers also discuss the potential for rapalogs in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and the role of metformin in reducing the risk of dementia.
The conversation highlights the complexity of aging research and the need for more comprehensive biomarkers. The topic of epigenetic clocks is also discussed, which are biomarkers that measure changes in methylation and are used to predict biological age. The discussion also touches on proteomics and the gender effects of aging, with women having a more stable proteome than men.
Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of finding ways to enhance immune function and protect vulnerable populations, as well as the challenges of conducting clinical trials and the ethical dilemma of prescribing drugs like metformin and rapamycin to patients for their other benefits, even if they are not sick.
