Extension of Drosophila lifespan by rapamycin depends on dietary composition and calorie intake

Researchers gave fruit flies several diets with different calorie levels and nutrient balances. Some flies also received rapamycin, a drug that changes cells’ nutrient-sensing signals. Rapamycin extended lifespan under some diets, but not under others. The size of the effect also changed with how much food the flies consumed. Fruit flies are not people, so this does not directly show that rapamycin extends human life.

What this means for you: This is not a reason for people to buy or take rapamycin. It suggests that diet and calorie intake may strongly affect the drug’s effects, but human benefits and risks remain uncertain.