Scientists from the University of Liverpool have made an exciting discovery about a drug called rilmenidine, which is currently used to treat high blood pressure.
Their research suggests that rilmenidine can extend lifespan and slow aging.
In their study, animals treated with rilmenidine, whether young or old, lived longer and showed improved health markers.
These benefits were similar to those seen with a caloric restriction diet, which has long been known to promote longevity across various species.
The researchers found that the positive effects of rilmenidine are linked to a receptor in the body called the I1-imidazoline receptor nish-1. This receptor has now been identified as a potential target for drugs aimed at extending lifespan.
One of the significant advantages of rilmenidine is that it is already widely used as an oral medication for high blood pressure. It has rare and mild side effects, making it a safer option compared to other drugs previously studied for anti-aging purposes.
This raises the possibility of using rilmenidine in humans to slow aging and improve health in later years.
Currently, a diet involving caloric restriction is considered the most reliable method for slowing aging and increasing lifespan.
However, this diet’s effectiveness in humans has shown mixed results and can have side effects. Therefore, finding drugs like rilmenidine that can mimic the benefits of caloric restriction without the need for dietary changes is a promising strategy.
With the global population aging, even slight delays in the aging process can have enormous benefits. Repurposing existing drugs with the potential to extend lifespan and healthspan represents a significant, yet underexplored, area in the field of aging research.
This study is the first to demonstrate in animals that rilmenidine can increase lifespan. The researchers, led by Professor João Pedro Magalhães, are now interested in exploring other potential clinical applications of rilmenidine.
Their findings were published in the journal Aging Cell and highlight the potential for rilmenidine to become a valuable tool in the fight against aging.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and people with severe high blood pressure should reduce coffee intake.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
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