diff --git a/tpot-analyzer/src/api/metrics_cache.py b/tpot-analyzer/src/api/metrics_cache.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea7846c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tpot-analyzer/src/api/metrics_cache.py
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+"""Response caching for expensive metrics computations.
+
+Caches computed metrics responses to avoid recomputation when users
+adjust sliders rapidly. Uses in-memory LRU cache with TTL.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import hashlib
+import json
+import logging
+import time
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from functools import wraps
+from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Optional, Tuple
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class CacheEntry:
+    """Cache entry with data and metadata."""
+    data: Any
+    created_at: float
+    hits: int = 0
+
+
+class MetricsCache:
+    """In-memory cache for metrics computation responses.
+
+    Features:
+    - TTL-based expiration (default: 5 minutes)
+    - LRU eviction when max size reached
+    - Cache key based on computation parameters
+    - Hit/miss statistics
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, max_size: int = 100, ttl_seconds: int = 300):
+        """Initialize cache.
+
+        Args:
+            max_size: Maximum number of entries (default: 100)
+            ttl_seconds: Time-to-live in seconds (default: 300 = 5 minutes)
+        """
+        self.max_size = max_size
+        self.ttl_seconds = ttl_seconds
+        self._cache: Dict[str, CacheEntry] = {}
+        self._hits = 0
+        self._misses = 0
+
+    def _create_key(self, **params) -> str:
+        """Create cache key from parameters.
+
+        Args:
+            **params: Request parameters (seeds, weights, alpha, etc.)
+
+        Returns:
+            Hex-encoded SHA256 hash of sorted parameters
+        """
+        # Sort seeds for consistent hashing
+        if "seeds" in params:
+            params["seeds"] = tuple(sorted(params["seeds"]))
+
+        # Convert to canonical JSON representation
+        canonical = json.dumps(params, sort_keys=True, separators=(',', ':'))
+
+        # Hash to fixed-length key
+        return hashlib.sha256(canonical.encode()).hexdigest()[:16]
+
+    def get(self, **params) -> Optional[Any]:
+        """Get cached result if available and fresh.
+
+        Args:
+            **params: Request parameters
+
+        Returns:
+            Cached data or None if not found/expired
+        """
+        key = self._create_key(**params)
+        entry = self._cache.get(key)
+
+        if entry is None:
+            self._misses += 1
+            logger.debug(f"Cache MISS: {key}")
+            return None
+
+        # Check TTL
+        age = time.time() - entry.created_at
+        if age > self.ttl_seconds:
+            logger.debug(f"Cache EXPIRED: {key} (age={age:.1f}s)")
+            del self._cache[key]
+            self._misses += 1
+            return None
+
+        # Hit!
+        entry.hits += 1
+        self._hits += 1
+        logger.debug(f"Cache HIT: {key} (age={age:.1f}s, hits={entry.hits})")
+        return entry.data
+
+    def set(self, data: Any, **params) -> None:
+        """Store result in cache.
+
+        Args:
+            data: Response data to cache
+            **params: Request parameters (used for key)
+        """
+        key = self._create_key(**params)
+
+        # Evict oldest entry if at max size
+        if len(self._cache) >= self.max_size:
+            oldest_key = min(
+                self._cache.keys(),
+                key=lambda k: self._cache[k].created_at
+            )
+            logger.debug(f"Cache EVICT: {oldest_key} (LRU)")
+            del self._cache[oldest_key]
+
+        self._cache[key] = CacheEntry(
+            data=data,
+            created_at=time.time()
+        )
+        logger.debug(f"Cache SET: {key}")
+
+    def clear(self) -> None:
+        """Clear all cache entries."""
+        count = len(self._cache)
+        self._cache.clear()
+        logger.info(f"Cache CLEARED: {count} entries removed")
+
+    def stats(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Get cache statistics.
+
+        Returns:
+            Dict with hits, misses, size, hit_rate
+        """
+        total_requests = self._hits + self._misses
+        hit_rate = self._hits / total_requests if total_requests > 0 else 0
+
+        return {
+            "hits": self._hits,
+            "misses": self._misses,
+            "size": len(self._cache),
+            "max_size": self.max_size,
+            "hit_rate": round(hit_rate, 3),
+            "ttl_seconds": self.ttl_seconds
+        }
+
+
+def cached_response(cache: MetricsCache) -> Callable:
+    """Decorator to cache Flask route responses.
+
+    Args:
+        cache: MetricsCache instance
+
+    Returns:
+        Decorator function
+
+    Example:
+        @cached_response(metrics_cache)
+        def compute_metrics():
+            # expensive computation
+            return jsonify(result)
+    """
+    def decorator(func: Callable) -> Callable:
+        @wraps(func)
+        def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+            from flask import request, jsonify
+
+            # Extract cache parameters from request
+            data = request.json or {}
+            cache_params = {
+                "seeds": tuple(sorted(data.get("seeds", []))),
+                "weights": tuple(data.get("weights", [0.4, 0.3, 0.3])),
+                "alpha": data.get("alpha", 0.85),
+                "resolution": data.get("resolution", 1.0),
+                "include_shadow": data.get("include_shadow", True),
+                "mutual_only": data.get("mutual_only", False),
+                "min_followers": data.get("min_followers", 0),
+            }
+
+            # Try cache first
+            cached = cache.get(**cache_params)
+            if cached is not None:
+                return jsonify(cached)
+
+            # Cache miss - compute and store
+            response = func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+            # Extract data from response (handle both dict and Response objects)
+            if hasattr(response, 'get_json'):
+                data = response.get_json()
+            else:
+                data = response
+
+            cache.set(data, **cache_params)
+            return response
+
+        return wrapper
+    return decorator
diff --git a/tpot-analyzer/src/api/server.py b/tpot-analyzer/src/api/server.py
index c9c64e1..a0a13d6 100644
--- a/tpot-analyzer/src/api/server.py
+++ b/tpot-analyzer/src/api/server.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
     discover_subgraph,
     validate_request,
 )
+from src.api.metrics_cache import MetricsCache, cached_response
 from src.api.snapshot_loader import get_snapshot_loader
 from src.config import get_cache_settings
 from src.data.fetcher import CachedDataFetcher
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ def _append_analysis_log(line: str) -> None:
             analysis_status["log"] = analysis_status["log"][-200:]
 
 
-def _analysis_worker(active_list: str, include_shadow: bool, alpha: float) -> None:
+def _analysis_worker(active_list: str, include_shadow: bool, alpha: float, metrics_cache: MetricsCache) -> None:
     global analysis_thread
     cmd = [
         sys.executable or "python3",
@@ -105,7 +106,10 @@ def _analysis_worker(active_list: str, include_shadow: bool, alpha: float) -> No
                 analysis_status["finished_at"] = datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z"
                 analysis_status["status"] = "succeeded"
                 analysis_status["error"] = None
+            # Clear metrics cache after successful graph rebuild
+            metrics_cache.clear()
             _append_analysis_log("Analysis completed successfully.")
+            _append_analysis_log("Metrics cache cleared.")
         else:
             with analysis_lock:
                 analysis_status["finished_at"] = datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z"
@@ -207,6 +211,13 @@ def create_app(cache_db_path: Path | None = None) -> Flask:
     snapshot_loader = get_snapshot_loader()
     app.config["SNAPSHOT_LOADER"] = snapshot_loader
 
+    # Initialize metrics response cache
+    # TTL: 5 minutes (rapid slider adjustments cached, but not stale after graph rebuild)
+    # Max size: 100 entries (reasonable for typical usage patterns)
+    metrics_cache = MetricsCache(max_size=100, ttl_seconds=300)
+    app.config["METRICS_CACHE"] = metrics_cache
+    logger.info("Initialized metrics cache (max_size=100, ttl=300s)")
+
     # Try to load snapshot on startup
     logger.info("Checking for graph snapshot...")
     should_use, reason = snapshot_loader.should_use_snapshot()
@@ -330,6 +341,26 @@ def get_performance_metrics():
             logger.exception("Error getting performance metrics")
             return jsonify({"error": str(e)}), 500
 
+    @app.route("/api/metrics/cache/stats", methods=["GET"])
+    def get_cache_stats():
+        """Get metrics cache statistics."""
+        try:
+            stats = metrics_cache.stats()
+            return jsonify(stats)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.exception("Error getting cache stats")
+            return jsonify({"error": str(e)}), 500
+
+    @app.route("/api/metrics/cache/clear", methods=["POST"])
+    def clear_cache():
+        """Clear metrics cache. Useful after graph rebuild or data updates."""
+        try:
+            metrics_cache.clear()
+            return jsonify({"status": "cleared", "message": "Metrics cache cleared successfully"})
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.exception("Error clearing cache")
+            return jsonify({"error": str(e)}), 500
+
     @app.route("/api/graph-data", methods=["GET"])
     def get_graph_data():
         """
@@ -445,6 +476,7 @@ def get_graph_data():
             return jsonify({"error": str(e)}), 500
 
     @app.route("/api/metrics/compute", methods=["POST"])
+    @cached_response(metrics_cache)
     def compute_metrics():
         """
         Compute graph metrics with custom seeds and weights.
@@ -459,6 +491,9 @@ def compute_metrics():
             "mutual_only": false,
             "min_followers": 0
         }
+
+        Responses are cached for 5 minutes to improve UI responsiveness
+        during rapid slider adjustments.
         """
         try:
             data = request.json or {}
@@ -779,7 +814,7 @@ def run_analysis():
 
             analysis_thread = threading.Thread(
                 target=_analysis_worker,
-                args=(active_list, include_shadow, alpha),
+                args=(active_list, include_shadow, alpha, metrics_cache),
                 daemon=True,
             )
             analysis_thread.start()