Fasting, Autophagy & Calorie Restriction VS Longevity Drugs w/ Dr. Peter Attia

Discovery

The discovery of rapamycin is a fascinating tale rooted in an expedition to Easter Island in the 1960s. Peter Attia recounts how a Canadian team ventured to this remote location, known for its unique ecology, to conduct bioprospecting. During their exploration, they unearthed a previously unknown bacterium, streptomyces hydroscopicus, which produced a chemical with remarkable properties 1. This chemical, later named rapamycin, was found to inhibit the proliferation of yeast and fungi, initially thought to be a potential cure for athlete's foot.

It's one of my favorite stories in biology.

--- Peter Attia

The significance of this discovery extends beyond its initial applications, marking a pivotal moment in biological research.

   

Research

Following its discovery, rapamycin's journey into the realm of pharmaceuticals was marked by persistence and innovation. Attia explains how the compound was initially shelved by a pharmaceutical company but later revived by a determined scientist who stored it in his freezer for a decade 2. Eventually, rapamycin was developed into a groundbreaking immunosuppressant drug, offering a more sophisticated alternative to corticosteroids.

He kept it in his freezer, in his house for about a decade.

--- Peter Attia

This breakthrough paved the way for further research, revealing rapamycin's potential in extending lifespan by suppressing mTOR, a discovery that has been repeatedly validated across multiple species.