Does a special pill help older people get stronger when they exercise?
A single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, two-arm study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of once-weekly sirolimus (rapamycin) on muscle strength and endurance in older adults following a 13-week exercise program
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Older people did simple exercises at home for 13 weeks. Half took a pill called rapamycin once a week, half took a fake pill. Both groups got a bit stronger, but the pill didn’t help extra and might have slowed progress a little.
Surprising Findings
Rapamycin may have reduced strength gains from exercise
Preclinical studies and theory suggest rapamycin should enhance healthspan and possibly synergize with exercise by promoting cellular cleanup (autophagy). Instead, it may have blunted functional improvements.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t take rapamycin expecting to get stronger from exercise — it might do the opposite.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Older people did simple exercises at home for 13 weeks. Half took a pill called rapamycin once a week, half took a fake pill. Both groups got a bit stronger, but the pill didn’t help extra and might have slowed progress a little.
Surprising Findings
Rapamycin may have reduced strength gains from exercise
Preclinical studies and theory suggest rapamycin should enhance healthspan and possibly synergize with exercise by promoting cellular cleanup (autophagy). Instead, it may have blunted functional improvements.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t take rapamycin expecting to get stronger from exercise — it might do the opposite.
Publication
Journal
Trials
Year
2024
Authors
B. Stanfield, Matt Kaeberlein, B. Leroux, Julie Jones, Ruth Lucas, B. Arroll
Related Content
Claims (6)
Taking 6 mg of sirolimus once a week might help reduce signs of aging and inflammation in older people, but we’re not sure yet and need bigger studies to confirm it.
Taking a weekly 6 mg dose of rapamycin might actually slow down strength gains in older people who are working out, even though both those on and off the drug get a bit stronger.
Taking a weekly 6 mg dose of sirolimus seems to be safe for older adults (65–85 years old) if they also do light home exercises for 13 weeks — most side effects were caught through check-ups and self-reports, but the study was too small to catch very rare ones.
Taking rapamycin with exercise might help improve muscle strength in older people by affecting a specific cell pathway in the body.
Taking a weekly low dose of a drug called rapamycin while doing a 13-week home exercise program might help older adults (65–85 years old) get stronger legs — but we’re not totally sure how much it helps because the study was small and short.