mTOR – Indirect inhibition, the Holy Grail for Life Extension and Perhaps Some Autism
Not cheap at about $1,000 for just 140mg Life extension may come as a surprise, but it is interesting because it is well studied and, in mice at least, easy to measure. Most research into mTOR relates to cancer, but this is a very complex condition. With various feedback loops it means that sometimes the actual effect is the opposite of what was predicted. For example, a substance that can help prevent cancer can actually become harmful later and promote its growth. Direct inhibition of mTOR with Everolimus and similar drugs (variants/analogs of Rapamycin , all called Rapalogs) has not been as successful as hoped in cancer research. Trials of direct inhibition of mTOR will shortly start in one rare single gene type of autism ( TSC ). The drugs are so expensive that many providers do not want to pay for them. As you will see mTOR is just one process in a cloud of interrelated processes. Almost everything has a role/effect:- growth factors, cytokines,...