175 - The biology of aging, rapamycin, and other interventions that target the aging process

Summary

In this podcast episode, the host interviews a professor of pathology at the University of Washington to discuss the topic of aging and its relationship with disease. They delve into the hallmarks of aging, which are cellular and molecular changes that contribute to functional declines and age-related diseases. The speakers also discuss the importance of recognizing functional declines that happen during aging and the relationship between aging and disease. They suggest that targeting the biology of aging can be a more effective and efficient approach to overall health and longevity.

The conversation revolves around the approach to medicine in the 21st century, which is to target the biology of aging to enhance health and longevity. The speakers discuss the challenges of conducting clinical trials on aging and the potential benefits of interventions that slow down or reverse the aging process. They also discuss the use of drugs to reduce inflammation and improve immune function in older adults. The speakers suggest that pre-clinical studies using multi-omic analysis in mice could be a good starting point to develop a test that predicts individual outcomes for longevity.

The context also discusses the use of rapamycin in a study involving dogs to investigate its potential benefits in aging. The study aims to create a homogenous sample of middle-aged dogs to see potential benefits from rapamycin in the time frame of the study. The study focuses on inhibiting mTOR complex 1, which is known to regulate things like autophagy, mRNA translation effects on metabolism, and has been shown to lead to lifespan extension.

Overall, the podcast episode provides insights into the challenges and potential benefits of targeting the biology of aging to enhance health and longevity. The speakers suggest that more research is needed to develop effective interventions that slow down or reverse the aging process, and that clinical trials involving animals may be a good starting point for such research.