⚠️Scientists target a cellular aging pathway to improve human skin

What if we could tackle some of the biological processes behind aging rather than just treating its visible signs?

A new clinical study is exploring that possibility with RLX-201, a topical formulation designed to inhibit mTORC1, a cellular signaling pathway involved in growth, metabolism and cellular maintenance.

The randomized, double-blind study included 47 women who applied the formulation twice daily for 12 weeks. Researchers reported a 21% improvement in skin firmness and cheek wrinkles, a 40% improvement in skin texture and a 39% improvement in radiance.

In laboratory-grown human skin models, the researchers also reported a 91.7% reduction in pRPS6, a molecular marker associated with mTORC1 activity.

The findings are interesting because mTOR signaling is involved in several processes linked to aging. But improving skin appearance is not the same as reversing biological aging, and results from a small, short-term study need further validation.

@futurism 🧬