United States: Recent research from the University of Southern California (USC), Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, reveals that mifepristone, traditionally known for terminating early pregnancies, might also aid in extending human lifespan.
These findings could reshape the landscape of anti-aging therapies.
Mifepristone, now being explored for its potential in treating Cushing’s disease and certain cancers, has captured the attention of researchers focused on longevity.
More about the finding
In studies using fruit flies, John Tower, a professor at USC, compared mifepristone with rapamycin, a drug known for extending the lifespans of various animals. Surprisingly, the combination of both drugs did not significantly alter lifespan, suggesting they share similar mechanisms of action.
Researchers focused on mitophagy to understand how these drugs influence longevity.
Cellular “clean-up” process
Mitophagy seems similar to a cellular “trash disposal” in which unwanted and dysfunctional mitochondria — the cell powerhouses — are removed and brought to the cell recycle bin.
First-of-its-kind research
This study marks the first quantitative assessment of mitophagy in fruit flies. The results indicated that mifepristone significantly increases mitophagy, akin to rapamycin.
Tower noted, “The noninvasive in vivo mitophagy assay is novel, and our findings suggest that enhancing mitochondrial health could be central to how both drugs extend lifespan.”
Given that mifepristone is FDA-approved for various conditions, it may facilitate quicker clinical trials for anti-aging applications.
Further research is essential to determine whether these effects can be replicated in humans, as observed in fruit flies.
Ultimately, mifepristone could offer a safe and accessible method to mitigate age-related cellular decline, opening doors for therapies aimed at improving mitochondrial health and promoting longevity.