Can this blood pressure drug be the key to extending lifespan?

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The process of aging is a complex phenomenon that is marked by a decline in physiological function and an increased vulnerability to disease.

While scientists have been studying aging for decades, it remains an elusive process, and there is no definitive cure for the effects of aging.

One of the most promising approaches to extending lifespan and improving healthspan, which is the length of time an individual is healthy and free of chronic disease, is through caloric restriction.

Caloric restriction is a dietary intervention that involves reducing the number of calories consumed while still maintaining adequate nutrient intake.

This has been shown to increase lifespan in animals, but its effect on humans has had mixed results and side effects.

As a result, scientists have been searching for drugs that can mimic the benefits of caloric restriction without the side effects.

Several drugs have been studied for this purpose, including metformin, rapamycin, and resveratrol.

However, these drugs have limitations, such as the need for injection, low bioavailability, and severe side effects.

Recently, a team of researchers from the University of Liverpool studied the effects of rilmenidine, a drug used to treat high blood pressure, on the lifespan and healthspan of worms, fruit flies, and mice.

The study found that animals treated with rilmenidine, both at a young age and an older age, had increased lifespans and improved health markers, mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.

The researchers identified the I1-imidazoline receptor nischarin-1 as the mediator of the healthspan and lifespan benefits of rilmenidine treatment.

They believe that this receptor could be a potential target for drugs designed to promote longevity.

Unlike other drugs previously studied for this purpose, rilmenidine is an oral high-blood pressure medication that is widely prescribed and has few and non-severe side effects.

This means that rilmenidine has the potential for future use in humans as a treatment for aging.

The team says that with a global aging population, the benefits of delaying aging, even if slightly, are immense.

Repurposing drugs capable of extending lifespan and healthspan has a huge untapped potential in translational geroscience.

While more research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind the drug’s effects and to determine its potential clinical applications, this study offers hope for the development of new therapies for aging-related diseases.

In summary, the study conducted by the University of Liverpool suggests that rilmenidine could potentially extend lifespan and improve healthspan in animals.

This finding highlights the potential of repurposing existing drugs to target the aging process and develop new therapies for aging-related diseases.

If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about the best time to take high blood pressure drugs, and scientists find new way to treat high blood pressure.

For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing DASH diet is good for your blood pressure, and vegetable diet may reduce heart disease risk.

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