SEATTLE, US: Ageing greatly affects overall health and is the greatest risk factor for cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and periodontal disease. However, these conditions are often treated on a case-by-case basis rather than targeting the underpinning process of ageing. Now, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a first-of-its-kind study that will evaluate the effect of rapamycin in older adults with periodontal disease. Rapamycin is an FDA-approved drug that is often used in anti-ageing research and has been shown to extend lifespan and improve health span in various species.