Health
Aging slowdown could be surprise benefit of existing medication, research shows
A drug used to prevent organ rejection in kidney transplant patients is being touted for potentially slowing down aging.
The immune-suppressing medication rapamycin, also known as sirolimus, is being used off-label as a means of extending longevity.
“By targeting a key pathway (mTOR) in cells, this drug has been shown to extend lifespan in animals and could be beneficial to prevent age-related diseases in humans,” Dr. Andrea B. Maier — a professor in healthy aging and dementia research at the Director of the Centre for Healthy Longevity at the National University of Singapore — told Fox News Digital.
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Maier was co-author of a recent review study that explored how rapamycin affected healthy humans.
A drug used to prevent organ rejection in kidney transplant patients is being touted for potentially slowing down aging. (iStock)
The review, which was published in the journal Lancet Healthy Longevity, found that the medication improved the effects of aging on the skin.
“Rapamycin and its derivatives improve the immune and cardiovascular function of healthy individuals or individuals with aging-related diseases,” Maier said in an email.
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Daniel Tawfik, a molecular biologist and co-founder of Healthspan, a digital medical clinic that focuses on anti-aging and longevity-promoting therapies, said his team uses rapamycin to help slow down the rate of aging.
“We view this through the lens of reducing the accumulation of damaged senescent cells,” Tawfik, who is based in Santa Monica, California, told Fox News Digital.
The immune-suppressing medication rapamycin is being used off-label as a means of extending longevity. (iStock)
Senescent cells are cells that no longer function properly, but linger in the body and can contribute to tissue deterioration and inflammation, the expert said.
“By lowering the rate at which healthy cells transform into senescent cells, rapamycin can slow the aging process at the tissue level, helping to preserve organ function and overall health as we age,” he added.
Off-label use
In the U.S., rapamycin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its immune-suppressing properties in patients with kidney transplants and certain cancers.
It is not approved for use as an age-defying drug.
“Sirolimus (rapamycin) has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety and effectiveness as an anti-aging treatment,” a press officer for the FDA confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“Rapamycin can slow the aging process at the tissue level, helping to preserve organ function and overall health.”
Despite this, rapamycin is being used “off-label” for anti-aging purposes, according to Elaena Quattrocchi, a registered pharmacist and an associate professor at Long Island University College of Pharmacy in Brooklyn, New York.
“Off-label means the FDA has not approved the drug for this use,” she told Fox News Digital.
Rapamycin, which is also known as Sirolimus, is being used “off-label” for anti-aging purposes, experts say. (iStock)
When prescribing a drug for off-label use, the provider must explain to the patient that the medication has not been approved for the indication for which they are prescribing it, Quattrocchi noted.
“People taking this medication must discuss with their primary care provider and pharmacist about the potential side effects and drug interactions,” she said.
Benefits of rapamycin
Tawfik’s company currently treats more than 3,500 patients with rapamycin, he told Fox News Digital.
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His team has seen numerous benefits of its off-label anti-aging use, he said, including improved cellular health, reduced risk of age-related diseases and the potential for enhanced longevity.
“Under proper medical supervision, many of our patients experience a marked reduction in inflammation and improvement in conditions related to autoimmunity,” Tawfik said.
When prescribing a drug for off-label use, the provider should explain to the patient that the medication has not been approved for the indication for which they are prescribing it, according to experts. (iStock)
“For example, patients with osteoarthritis often report significant relief from joint pain after starting rapamycin.”
The expert also noted that certain biomarkers linked to healthspan and longevity — such as reduced inflammation markers and enhanced metabolic health — were seen in the bloodwork of the patients using rapamycin.
Screening and safety
Patients need a prescription for rapamycin, experts told Fox News Digital.
Individuals are screened to determine whether they are candidates for the treatment. If it is prescribed, patients are monitored carefully when taking the drug.
“It is essential that rapamycin use is overseen by a physician.”
“It is essential that rapamycin use is overseen by a physician to ensure that dosing is effective yet safe, as high doses can lead to unwanted immunosuppression,” Tawfik warned.
Maier echoed that rapamycin and its derivatives are not for self-medication use.
“An important step is to first measure the patient’s biological age and investigate why the pace of aging might be faster,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Then a tailored approach to match the measures with interventions at need is required.”
Quattrocchi and Tawfik both emphasized the importance of working with an accredited pharmacy that sources the drug directly from a reputable manufacturer.
Rapamycin and its derivatives are not for self-medication use, experts cautioned. (iStock)
Rapamycin is not recommended for immunocompromised individuals or those taking immunosuppressant medication, Tawfik cautioned.
It is not typically used in younger adults, he added, since starting this regimen at such an early age is unnecessary.
Calls for more research
There are limited studies on the effects of rapamycin on humans and organ systems, Maier noted.
In researching studies of the drug, Maier’s research team found that adverse reactions in healthy individuals were classified “as mild or moderate and were reversible after the discontinuation of treatment.”
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However, the study authors stated, “there were increased numbers of infections and increases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in individuals with aging-related diseases.”
“Future studies should assess the remaining unexamined systems and test the effects of long-term exposure to rapamycin and its derivatives.”
Experts have reported numerous anti-aging benefits of rapamycin, including improved cellular health, reduced risk of age-related diseases and the potential for enhanced longevity. (iStock)
The majority of studies exploring rapamycin’s effects on aging have been conducted on mice and other animals as well as experimental models, researchers told Fox News Digital.
“The reason scientists are so interested in rapamycin is that in every species that’s been studied to date – yeast, worms, flies, mice – when they are given rapamycin, healthspan and lifespan are extended,” Tawfik noted.
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“No other intervention has that degree of validation.”
Quattrocchi agreed that further research is needed into the drug’s proper dosing, adverse effects, and potential anti-aging benefits in healthy individuals and those with medical conditions.
A Costco-brand cold and flu medicine has been pulled from shelves by the thousands.
A total of 8,640 boxes of Kirkland Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion Day and Night packs were recalled by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) last week.
This is following the FDA’s proposal to ban the use of oral phenylephrine as an over-the-counter nasal decongestant in early November.
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After “extensive review,” the FDA concluded that the active ingredient in the product (oral phenylephrine) is “not effective” as a nasal decongestant.
Nearly 9,000 boxes of Kirkland Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion Day and Night were recalled for quality control issues. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said he agrees with the recent pushback against the ingredient.
“This chemical is shown to be ineffective against cold and flu in its oral form, except at a dose that has some heart toxicity and can lead to palpitations, arrhythmia and high blood pressure.”
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The FDA stated that the Kirkland recall was related to quality control issues, noting in the official recall that the “released product should have been rejected.”
This was a Class II recall, which the FDA describes as a “situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Recalled boxes of Kirkland Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion had lot numbers P139953 or P139815 with an August 2026 expiration date. (eBay)
Katy Dubinsky, a New York pharmacist and founder and CEO of Vitalize, confirmed with Fox News Digital that the recall most likely occurred due to deviations from CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice).
“[That means] the product failed to meet required quality control standards and should have been rejected before release,” she said.
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“To guarantee all products meet strict safety and quality guidelines, the FDA made a Class II recall, which suggests low consumer risk and typically addresses issues unlikely to cause serious harm.”
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Manufacturing inconsistencies and labeling errors can cause “many” CGMP deviations, according to the pharmacist, as well as other procedural issues rather than ingredient problems.
“Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin and phenylephrine – the listed active ingredients – are widely used as well as considered safe when taken as directed,” she said.
Pharmacist Katy Dubinsky told consumers to stop using recalled lots of this product. (iStock)
Dubinsky instructed consumers to stop using the recalled lots and consult with a health care professional if concerns or symptoms arise after taking the product.
“However, there is no need for panic,” she said. “Recalls like this are important to keep products safe and help people trust the over-the-counter medications they rely on.”
Recalled boxes of the Kirkland Cold & Flu product had lot numbers P139953 or P139815 with an August 2026 expiration date.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA and Costco for comment.
Bird flu (H5N1) continues to spark warnings around the country.
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the country’s first severe case of bird flu in a human.
The patient, who lives in southwestern Louisiana, is currently hospitalized, according to a release from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
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The infected person is known to have been exposed to sick and dead birds that are “suspected to have been infected,” the same source stated.
The LDH is working with the CDC on genomic testing of the virus infecting the hospitalized patient. Fox News Digital reached out to the department for comment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday confirmed the country’s first severe case of bird flu in a human. (iStock)
There have been a total of 61 human cases throughout the country since April.
No human-to-human transmission has been reported, leading the CDC to maintain its stance that risk to the public is low.
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Despite the low risk, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency due to the bird flu.
The declaration follows an outbreak of the virus among dairy cows in Southern California farms, according to the news release on the governor’s website.
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency due to the bird flu. (Mario Tama)
“Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agricultural industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information,” he continued.
“While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”
Doctors discuss bird flu risk
Sam Scarpino, PhD, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, said the “tragic case” in Louisiana is evidence of the “widespread nature” of H5N1 in the U.S.
“It also reinforces the very serious situation we are facing,” he told Fox News Digital.
“We need to take more decisive action to control the spread of H5N1 in animal populations.”
“We need to take more decisive action to control the spread of H5N1 in animal populations. Until then, we will continue to see human spillover cases, and some of them will unfortunately be severe.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, pointed out that this severe case represents just one instance of the infection and is not necessarily cause for alarm.
No human-to-human transmission has been reported, leading the CDC to maintain its stance that risk to the public is low. (iStock)
“We’d have to know more about the patient’s particular medical details,” he told Fox News Digital. “We can’t conclude [from one case] that it’s becoming more severe in humans.”
Previous iterations of bird flu have had a 50% death rate in humans, Siegel noted, but the 61 human cases in the U.S. this year have been “very mild.”
“That is actually a good sign, that the virus is mutating away from severity, as traditionally H5N1 makes humans very sick,” he told Fox News Digital.
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The most critical thing to watch, according to the doctor, is whether bird flu will begin to spread from human to human.
“That’s the key thing we’re concerned about — that it doesn’t get into the upper respiratory tract among humans,” Siegel said.
“Bird flu is a group of influenza viruses that primarily circulate among bird populations,” an expert told Fox News Digital. “However, influenza viruses are also known to jump species, and bird flu has done this a few times in history.” (Uli Deck/picture alliance via Getty Images)
“It hasn’t up until now, and that’s because it would take some mutations — at least one. We’re tracking that, but probably not closely enough.”
The vast majority of recent human cases have stemmed from direct contact with animals, he said — “but it’s now spread into the cattle population and into milk, which worries a lot of people, including me.”
Rebecca C. Christofferson, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at Louisiana State University, commented to Fox News Digital about the potential for a pandemic.
“Nobody wants another pandemic.”
“Bird flu is a group of influenza viruses that primarily circulate among bird populations,” she told Fox News Digital.
“However, influenza viruses are also known to jump species, and bird flu has done this a few times in history.”
A researcher wears a protective suit while collecting samples of wildlife where the H5N1 bird flu virus was detected in Chilean Antarctic territory in Antarctica. (Reuters/Instituto Antartico Chileno)
“The more the virus gets into mammals and then the more it passes from mammal to mammal, the greater the concern that it will adapt to mammals and spread more easily among them and then spill over into humans,” Christofferson added.
“Nobody wants another pandemic.”
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The good news, Cristofferson said, is that it’s easy to protect yourself from catching bird flu.
“If you have to handle birds or suspected ill animals (or be around ill people), wearing gloves and masks and washing your hands will protect you as it does with other respiratory viruses,” she said.
For those who are feeling “stuck” or overwhelmed while striving for work-life balance, some experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.”
Coined by Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Ph.D, a professor of biomedical engineering at Brigham & Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School in Boston, the pendulum lifestyle is defined as a “concept that acknowledges life’s natural ebb and flow, and empowers you to thrive amidst the swings.”
“Rarely are we in balance … it’s just unrealistic and an anxiety-inducing expectation,” the doctor told Fox News Digital in an interview.
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Seeing the world as a pendulum fosters a more compassionate mindset and alleviates the pressure to be perfect, Karp said.
For those who are feeling “stuck” or overwhelmed while striving for work-life balance, some experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.” (iStock)
With this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” enabling them to feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” during the day, according to the expert.
This could also empower individuals who feel “stuck” when facing daily challenges, he said.
“Looking at nature, there are so many cycles, so many things that are kind of going back and forth, like night and day …. changes of seasons, and the waxing and waning of the moon,” noted Karp.
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The pendulum lifestyle involves daily “self-check-ins” where the person gauges their physical, emotional and mental energy levels, Karp said. They can then take immediate steps to move their levels in a positive direction toward the ideal balance.
“If we can visualize everything on a pendulum, we can think, ‘What’s the one step I could take today to bring the pendulum a little closer to where I want it to be?’” he said.
With this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” enabling them to feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” during the day. (iStock)
For example, a person who has low physical energy could visualize a pendulum with the lowest energy on one side and the highest energy on the other.
He would then do a “self-check” to identify where his energy level lies on the pendulum and what small steps could move it closer to the ideal balance point, Karp said.
“True well-being doesn’t lie in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebb and flow of life.”
That might mean taking a 10-minute walk, doing some jumping jacks or performing a few stretches to move the pendulum to a higher energy level position.
“This empowers the person and reminds them they are not stuck,” Karp said.
Taking a 10-minute walk, doing some jumping jacks or performing a few stretches can move the pendulum to a higher energy level position, the expert said. (iStock)
On the flip side, if it’s late at night and a person needs to wind down, she might engage in a calming exercise like meditation or listening to relaxing music as a way to swing the pendulum to a level more conducive to sleeping, the expert advised.
The pendulum lifestyle can also serve as a mood-booster, Kelp said. When someone is feeling down, watching a funny movie or practicing gratitude can help shift the pendulum.
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The approach could also help launch forward momentum if someone feels “stuck” in life, the expert said.
“When you start to realize that you’re not limited to being at that spot on the pendulum, but can take a step forward and be intentional, it’s just so empowering,” he said.
The daily check-in process could help individuals identify when they are feeling in less than tip-top shape and find ways to swing in a better direction, one expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Molly Sherb, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a licensed psychologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, commented on Karp’s concept of a pendulum lifestyle.
“When you start to realize that you’re not limited to being at that spot on the pendulum, but can take a step forward and be intentional, it’s just so empowering.”
She agreed that the daily check-in process could help individuals identify when they are feeling in less than tip-top shape and find ways to swing in a better direction.
“That might include getting better sleep or eating a healthier breakfast … to help you wake up with a better bandwidth tomorrow,” Sherb said.
Progress, not perfection
Dr. Christopher Fisher, a psychologist at Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health in Queens, New York, said the pendulum lifestyle could help those who feel pressured to achieve a perfect work-life balance.
“The pendulum of life’s experiences – whether emotional, cognitive or physical – is one of the truest expressions of what it means to be human,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“True well-being doesn’t lie in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebb and flow of life,” he told Fox News Digital.
Sherb agreed that the essence of the pendulum lifestyle is that it’s not always possible to strike that 50-50 equal balance.
Adopt a constructive viewpoint and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you achieve a more optimal level on the pendulum path, one expert advised. (iStock)
“It’s about constantly tuning into yourself … and seeing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times,” she said.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a more tailored approach based on what you need and what people in your life need from you.”
4 steps to implementing the pendulum lifestyle
Karp shared some specific strategies for adopting the pendulum approach.
1. Perform a head-to-toe check-in each morning
Ask yourself how you are feeling emotionally, physically and mentally. What parts do not feel at a 100% level?
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2. Make any necessary adjustments
Based on your self-check-in, consider changing your routine to accommodate your energy level or take simple steps to help move the pendulum in a positive direction, Karp suggested.
3. Be compassionate and curious
If you feel off-balance, Karp said to recognize that as part of the natural pendulum swing and to embrace it with self-compassion rather than shame and criticism.
“It’s about constantly tuning into yourself … and seeing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times.”
Adopt a constructive viewpoint and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you achieve a more optimal level on the pendulum path, he advised.
4. Understand your pendulum swings
It could be helpful to ask yourself specific questions, such as the following.
“What factors helped contribute to a state of feeling balanced?”
“What factors contributed to feeling off-balance?”
“What small changes can I make today to foster a sense of better balance?”
“How did I respond to feeling imbalanced and was it effective?”
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Above all, Karp said, it’s important to remember that finding balance is a “lifelong journey.”
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