Aging comes with its own set of health issues, and one of the most serious ones is the hardening and declining function of blood vessels. These changes can lead to heart diseases, which are a major cause of death in older people.
While there are traditional ways to deal with these issues, like exercise, blood pressure medicines, and drugs to lower cholesterol, researchers are always looking for new treatments to help older adults keep their blood vessels healthy.
A new study in the journal GeroScience is taking a closer look at Empagliflozin (Empa), a drug usually used to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. This study is all about understanding how Empa might help with the problems that come with aging blood vessels.
Comparing Blood Vessel Health
The first part of the study compared the blood vessels of two groups of people: younger adults around 25 years old, and older adults around 61 years old.
The older group had more problems with the inner lining of their blood vessels and their aortas were stiffer. This is what usually happens as blood vessels age.
Testing Empa on Mice
The main part of the study focused on male mice that were about 72 weeks old, which is pretty old for mice. The researchers split them into two groups. One group got food with Empa in it, and the other group had regular food.
After six weeks, the group that got Empa showed better blood vessel function, less stiffness in their arteries, and other signs of healthier blood vessels compared to the group that didn’t get Empa.
How Does Empa Work?
Empa works by blocking something called sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2). This stops the kidneys from putting glucose back into the blood, which helps lower blood sugar levels. This study is the first time researchers are looking at how blocking SGLT2 might help with aging blood vessels.
Looking to the Future
These results are still early and come from studies on mice, but they lay the groundwork for bigger studies on people. If these findings hold up in human studies, it could really change how we take care of blood vessels in older adults, adding to the treatments we already have.
This research got funding from big names like the National Institutes of Health and a VA Merit Grant, showing how important it is. Also, since the authors don’t have any conflicts of interest, their findings could be really promising for future research and new treatments for vascular health in aging.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about how ultra-processed foods and red meat influence your longevity, and why seafood may boost healthy aging.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
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