Combination treatment that safely enhances the ability of the immune system to fight infections in the elderly population has been identified by a research team. Individuals who receive low doses of these drugs combines have lower incidence of infections for a year.

‘Low doses of the drug combination – RAD001 or BEZ235 with TORC1 inhibitors for six weeks improve immunity among the elderly population and reduce the incidence of infections.’

The authors found that the group receiving both inhibitors had a lower incidence of all infections for a year (1.49 infections per person) after the treatment was started compared to a group that received a placebo (2.41 infections per person). Furthermore, the treated subjects demonstrated an improved immune response towards a seasonal influenza vaccine that was administered two weeks after treatment ceased. Mannick et al. say that future studies should further assess how long the therapy's beneficial effects last, as well as determine the mechanisms responsible for the lower infection rates.





Source-Eurekalert