We all get older, and as we do, our bodies start to slow down and we’re more likely to get sick. So far, no one’s found a magic cure to stop this process.
But some studies show that eating fewer calories, while still getting the nutrients we need, can help us live longer and stay healthier.
This is known as caloric restriction. Yet this approach isn’t easy to stick with, and sometimes has side effects.
Hunting for Anti-Aging Drugs
Researchers have been on the lookout for drugs that can give us the good effects of eating fewer calories without the downside.
Drugs like metformin, rapamycin, and resveratrol have been tested, but each has its problems. Some need to be injected, some don’t work well in the body, and others have severe side effects.
A Surprising Candidate: Rilmenidine
A team of scientists from the University of Liverpool may have found a new option. They did experiments with rilmenidine, a drug normally used for high blood pressure, on worms, fruit flies, and mice.
The result? Both young and older animals that were given this drug lived longer and seemed to be healthier, just like with caloric restriction.
The team figured out that the drug works through a particular “mediator” in the body, known as the I1-imidazoline receptor nischarin-1. This could be a key target for future anti-aging drugs.
Why Rilmenidine Stands Out
What makes rilmenidine interesting is that it’s already widely used, it comes in pill form, and it generally has mild side effects. This makes it a good candidate for future tests as an anti-aging treatment.
What This Means for Us
As our global population gets older, finding ways to slow down aging could make a huge difference. Even a slight delay could help a lot of people live healthier, happier lives.
Reusing existing drugs, like rilmenidine, to aim at this goal could be a big step forward.
In conclusion, this new study gives us a glimmer of hope for new ways to tackle aging and the diseases that come with it. More research is needed, but it seems like we might be onto something promising here.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about a common and unrecognized cause of high blood pressure, and this small habit can greatly benefit people with high blood pressure, cholesterol.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about more efficient way to treat high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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