Rapamycin fed late in life extends lifespan in genetically heterogeneous mice

Although inhibition of the TOR signalling pathway extends lifespan in invertebrates, it was unknown whether mTOR signalling inhibition has similar effects in mammalian species. Here, feeding mice the drug rapamycin — an inhibitor of the mTOR pathway — late in life is shown to extend lifespan by 9–14%; currently, the only way to extend lifespan in rodents is by severe dietary restriction.