Experimental Longevity Compounds: Rapamycin, Metformin and Others

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Rapamycin (also called sirolimus), metformin and dasatinib are prescription medicines approved for specific diseases. Using them to try to slow aging is experimental. This page summarizes trials and drug information only. It gives no starting, stopping or dose advice and does not suggest anyone obtain these drugs; talk with your prescriber. Evidence labels: approved medicine, promising but limited, preclinical (cells/animals only), insufficient evidence.

Rapamycin (sirolimus)

What it is approved for. MedlinePlus, the US National Library of Medicine, describes sirolimus as used with other medicines to prevent rejection of kidney transplants and to treat lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a rare lung condition. [1] Label for aging: not an approved use in the sources we read.

Animal evidence. In genetically varied mice at three test sites, rapamycin started late in life extended median and maximal lifespan (a 14% increase for females and 9% for males in age at 90% mortality). [2] Label: preclinical. A 2025 JAMA review also reported mouse lifespan gains and said benefits of targeting aging pathways in humans are unproven. [3]

Human evidence. The PEARL trial gave 48 weeks of intermittent low-dose compounded rapamycin or placebo to healthy older adults. Adverse events were similar across groups. Visceral fat, the main outcome, did not change significantly; some secondary results (lean tissue and pain in women at one dose, well-being scores at another) improved. [4] Label: insufficient evidence of benefit; the trial was about one year in duration and the authors said future work is needed to more comprehensively establish efficacy.

Risks. MedlinePlus says sirolimus can make it harder to fight infections, and may increase the risk of cancer, especially lymphoma or skin cancer. [1] Those warnings come from its transplant use and apply to a different population than healthy people.

Metformin

What it is approved for. MedlinePlus says metformin is used alone or with other medicines to treat type 2 diabetes. [5] Label for aging: not an approved use in the sources we read.

Evidence. Metformin extends life in some model organisms, and observational studies in diabetes helped fuel interest. A 2025 review concluded that the evidence for an anti-aging effect in people is increasingly uncertain, noting methodological limits of early findings and clinical trials in people without diabetes. [6] A 2019 editorial said it remains unknown whether protective effects seen in people with chronic disease extend to those without it. [7] Label: insufficient evidence for slowing aging.

Risks. MedlinePlus lists common side effects including diarrhea, nausea and stomach discomfort, and warns of lactic acidosis, a serious condition, with kidney disease a particular concern. [5]

Senolytics (dasatinib plus quercetin)

Senolytics aim to clear "senescent" cells, which stop dividing and accumulate with age. [3] In a 12-person randomized pilot in lung fibrosis, dasatinib plus quercetin was feasible and generally well tolerated, though sleep disturbance and anxiety were more common in the treated group; the trial was too small to judge benefit. [8] In a 60-woman trial in postmenopausal women, the main bone-resorption outcome did not differ from control. [9] Label: insufficient evidence. Check the drug information for each medicine with a prescriber. See Cellular Senescence, Senolytics and Autophagy.

Why trials are limited

The Cell Metabolism review said trials of these agents are mostly aimed at age-associated diseases rather than aging itself. [10]

Who needs extra caution

Anyone pregnant, with kidney, liver or immune conditions, or taking other medicines should not self-treat; see medication interactions and talking with a health professional. Compare with human evidence overall.