mTOR and Aging: An Old Fashioned Dress.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search methodology or original clinical data
PubMed 31174250 · doi:10.3390/ijms20112774
What was done
This narrative review synthesized literature on the evolutionary role of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) nutrient-sensing protein kinase in aging biology, the mechanics of dietary restriction, and age-related pathologies, specifically focusing on the cardiovascular system, immune function, and cancer.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data. It summarizes mechanistic evidence from model organisms (yeast, nematodes, fruit flies, and mice) indicating that the mTOR signaling network plays a central role in modulating lifespan and mediates the protective effects of dietary restriction against age-related disease.
Why it matters
It contextualizes nutrient-sensing signaling cascades as major molecular drivers across standard hallmarks of aging and multiple age-related chronic disease categories.
Limits
As a non-systematic narrative review, the paper provides no primary data, quantitative synthesis, or explicit study selection criteria. The core longevity evidence cited relies heavily on non-human model organisms, which cannot directly establish efficacy or safety profiles for mTOR-targeted interventions in humans.
Cited by
- supports Dampening TOR kinase activity either genetically or with rapamycin extends lifespan in yeast, worms, flies, and mice.