Rapamycin is a drug that was originally developed as an immunosuppressant, but it has also been shown to have anti-aging properties. In studies on mice, rapamycin has been shown to extend lifespan, delay the onset of age-related diseases, and improve healthspan.

One of the most well-known studies on rapamycin and lifespan extension was conducted by the National Institute on Aging Interventions Testing Program (ITP). In this study, mice were fed a diet containing rapamycin starting at either 270 days of age (middle age) or 600 days of age (late age). The mice that received rapamycin lived significantly longer than the control mice, with an average lifespan increase of 14% for females and 9% for males.

Rapamycin has also been shown to delay the onset of age-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. In one study, mice that were treated with rapamycin starting at 6 months of age were less likely to develop cancer than the control mice. They also had lower levels of blood glucose and insulin, and their hearts were healthier.

Rapamycin was first isolated from a soil sample found on Easter Island in 1972. The name "rapamycin", in fact, came from the word Rapa Nui, which is the island’s native name. In clinical terms, rapamycin is also referred to as Sirolimus and is being sold under the brand name “Rapamune”.

The compound can disrupt cell growth by promoting the inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). mTOR refers to a signaling pathway that contributes to cell synthesis and metabolism–basically, rapamycin can interrupt mTOR. Rapamycin is found to enhance autophagy, which is a process that removes unnecessary, abnormal and damaged components within cells and prevents cells from stress. Autophagy keeps your cells healthy.

Studies that have shown the life-extending effects of rapamycin:

A study published in the journal Nature in 2009 showed that rapamycin extended the lifespan of mice by up to 38%.
A study published in the journal Science in 2014 showed that rapamycin prevented the development of age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease in mice.
A study published in the journal Cell in 2016 showed that rapamycin reversed some of the effects of aging in mice, such as muscle loss and cognitive decline.

Here are some of the potential risks of taking rapamycin for life extension:

Immunosuppression: Rapamycin can suppress the immune system, making it more difficult to fight off infections.
Kidney damage: Rapamycin can damage the kidneys, especially in people who already have kidney problems.
Diabetes: Rapamycin can increase the risk of developing diabetes.
Bone loss: Rapamycin can increase the risk of bone loss.
Muscle weakness: Rapamycin can cause muscle weakness.
Weight gain: Rapamycin can cause weight gain.

Recommended dosage and protocol, start with 1 mg and up-titrate. Important: the larger the initial dose, the longer the period between dosages. For example, 10 mg once a week and 20 mg every two weeks or longer. A maximum single dose of 25mg every two weeks is the maxmimum attempted by male biohacker after gaining expertise from years of use. Tiltrate down and cease use if adverse effects. There is also evidence that Rapamycin use must be intermiddent and not permanent. In one study, mice that were treated with rapamycin continuously for 6 months showed increased mortality. However, when the mice were treated with rapamycin intermittently, they did not show an increase in mortality. Some experts recommend a cycle of 2 weeks on rapamycin followed by 2 weeks off. The dosage for each cycle would be 0.1 mg/kg of body weight. This is the dosage that has been shown to be effective in extending lifespan in mice.