Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Nov 26, 2024 6:13:07 GMT
The Surprising Role of Rapamycin in Treating Long COVID and Post-Viral Syndromes - Published late 2024
Long COVID, a condition characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairments, and systemic inflammation, presents a significant global health challenge with limited treatment options. Recent interest in rapamycin as a potential therapeutic has been fueled by emerging anecdotal reports, including a notable viral social media account describing a patient’s recovery from severe post-exertional malaise (PEM) after using the drug. Rapamycin, traditionally studied for its geroprotective and cellular-modulating properties, inhibits the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, promoting autophagy, reducing immune dysregulation, mitigating chronic inflammation, and enhancing mitochondrial function. These mechanisms align with the pathophysiology of long COVID and are supported by insights from related conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). This research review aims to explore the scientific foundation for rapamycin’s use in addressing the multifactorial pathology of long COVID. By examining its mechanisms of action and insights from related conditions such as ME/CFS, the review provides a basis for understanding how rapamycin may offer a novel therapeutic approach for this debilitating condition.
By: Kristen Race, Shriya Bakhshi, Dr Ryan N. Marshall, PhD.
Long COVID, a condition characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairments, and systemic inflammation, presents a significant global health challenge with limited treatment options. Recent interest in rapamycin as a potential therapeutic has been fueled by emerging anecdotal reports, including a notable viral social media account describing a patient’s recovery from severe post-exertional malaise (PEM) after using the drug. Rapamycin, traditionally studied for its geroprotective and cellular-modulating properties, inhibits the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, promoting autophagy, reducing immune dysregulation, mitigating chronic inflammation, and enhancing mitochondrial function. These mechanisms align with the pathophysiology of long COVID and are supported by insights from related conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). This research review aims to explore the scientific foundation for rapamycin’s use in addressing the multifactorial pathology of long COVID. By examining its mechanisms of action and insights from related conditions such as ME/CFS, the review provides a basis for understanding how rapamycin may offer a novel therapeutic approach for this debilitating condition.
By: Kristen Race, Shriya Bakhshi, Dr Ryan N. Marshall, PhD.