Morning, long-lifers. Here’s what’s new:

Rapamycin rivals fasting for life extension — a drug from dirt may help you live longer without skipping meals.

Finally, science that lets you age well and eat cake—just don’t mind the minor immune system sacrifice.

Don’t keep longer. a secret—share it with your friends!

This week in longevity:

• 💡 Laser tool breaks up aging arteries

• 🐶 Dogs may outpace mice in aging studies

• 🍅 Mediterranean diet boosts sperm health

• 🧫 Gut bacteria drive age-related diseases

• 🧬 Vitamin C reboots aging skin cells

• Plus, more longevity breakthroughs.

Read time: 5 minutes

THIS WEEK IN LONGEVITY

🧪 Rapamycin rivals fasting for life extension — in animals, at least

A massive review of 167 studies finds that rapamycin, a decades-old drug originally derived from soil bacteria, may extend lifespan in animals almost as reliably as calorie restriction. But before you go raiding your transplant friend’s medicine cabinet — human trials are still far off, and the side effects aren’t small.

What to know:

• Biggest review yet: Researchers pulled data from 167 studies across 8 species (mice, rats, monkeys, fish) to compare the effects of rapamycin, metformin, and dietary restriction on lifespan.

• Rapamycin holds up: The drug matched dietary restriction (eating fewer calories or fasting) in its life-extending effects across multiple species — a rare feat.

• Metformin didn’t perform: Unlike rapamycin, metformin (a common diabetes drug) showed little to no benefit for longevity in these studies.

• No major sex differences: Across most animals, male and female responses to rapamycin were similar — though there’s still limited data on females.

• Not ready for humans: Human lifespan studies would take decades, and rapamycin’s current use (as an immunosuppressant in transplants) comes with serious side effects.

Why it’s important: This study puts rapamycin — and the mTOR pathway it affects — at the front of the line for future anti-aging therapies. But for now, it’s more “longevity lab rat” than daily supplement. A drug that mimics fasting without skipping meals sounds great — until you remember it also suppresses your immune system.

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💡 Laser-powered heart tool may help aging arteries age better

A new coronary device called Sola just completed its first human procedures — and it’s targeting one of the toughest jobs in cardiology: breaking up hardened, calcified arteries in older adults. Using precise laser pulses, this tool aims to treat heart disease more gently and efficiently, especially in patients who don’t have time (or heart strength) to spare.

What to know:

• Epigenetic memory: Fat cells (adipose tissue) retain genetic changes caused by obesity even after significant weight loss, making it easier to regain weight.

• How it works: These changes don’t alter your DNA but influence how genes behave, affecting metabolism, inflammation, and cell signaling.

• Key study details: Researchers studied fat cells from people before and after weight-loss surgery and observed similar effects in mice after high-fat diets and weight loss.

• Impact of obesity memory: In both humans and mice, fat cells were “primed” to regain fat faster when exposed to unhealthy diets again.

• Possible future solutions: Scientists hope to develop treatments that target and erase this memory, making long-term weight loss more effective.

Why it’s important: For aging patients, fewer complications and faster recovery could mean more than a healthier heart — it could mean staying mobile, independent, and off the surgery table. Basically, it’s heart care that thinks ahead — like a good retirement plan, but for your arteries.

💡 Want to break down a research article? Try this prompt in ChatGPT:
“Explain this in plain language. Avoid science terms. Keep it under 5 sentences. Then give 5 takeaways based only on this summary—no extra info or guesses: [Paste the article here]”

 MONEY MOVES IN LONGEVITY

💰 Infinity Bio raises $8M Series A to expand antibody reactome profiling—buys Serimmune, doubles its immune IQ.

💰 OutSee lands £1.8M seed to scale AI-driven genome insights—predicts disease from DNA, no cohorts required.

💰 OneSkin closes $20.36M Series B to scale OS-01 peptide—targets skin age as a biomarker, not just a mirror.

💰 Illumina buys SomaLogic for $425M to add large-scale protein analysis—expands beyond genes to full-body insights.

 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

1. Lab-grown embryos for personalized cell therapy
Israeli startup RenewalBio is using embryo-like stem cell models to produce young, personalized blood cells for aging-related treatments and bone marrow failure. Think of it as farming your own fresh blood—no donors, no mutations, just regenerative potential straight from your own cells.

2. Vitamin C reboots skin cell growth in aging
Japanese scientists found that vitamin C thickens aging skin by reactivating genes that drive keratinocyte growth, using DNA demethylation to restart cell renewal. Turns out your daily C dose might do more than brighten skin—it helps your cells remember how to grow like they used to.

3. Digital biomarkers edge closer to real-world use
A global review urges standardization of wearable aging metrics like sleep and movement, pushing for their adoption as core clinical trial tools. From step counts to sweat sensors, these trackers could finally measure aging where it matters most—in everyday life, not just the lab.

THE NEXT BIG THING

Dogs and data, rethinking aging

Aging research just went to the dogs—literally.

A new study mapped aging markers in canines and tested gene-edited stem cells, showing parallels with human immune and metabolic aging.

The twist? Dogs may offer a more realistic model than mice, thanks to shared environments and faster aging timelines.

Breakthrough or just early signals?

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

❤️ Heart Fix: Spanish-led researchers have developed an antibody therapy that clears cholesterol from heart cell mitochondria, reviving their energy production. In rabbit trials, it restored ATP output and reversed structural damage.

🍅 Fertility Fuel: An Italian study of 358 men found the Mediterranean diet boosts sperm count and motility, especially in those with healthy hormone levels. Ultra-processed foods showed the opposite effect, slashing sperm quality.

🧬 Gene Switches: Scientists found 473 human genes that act like on/off switches, many controlled by hormones or DNA methylation. These switches link to diseases from cancer to infertility—and may power future personalized therapies.

🧫 Microbiome Link: New analysis using genetic tools confirms gut bacteria can causally drive age-related diseases like heart failure and kidney disease. These microbes also boost disease prediction accuracy by up to 3%.

🧫 Fat Fix: Stopping the loss of fat-processing parts in aging worms kept their mitochondria (cell powerhouses) working. This boosted energy, slowed aging, and extended lifespan.

WHAT WE’RE BOOKMARKING

📱 Social

🎧 Podcasts

📰 Articles

⚙️ Tools to Try

Thanks for reading.

See you in the next issue.

Anna

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.