Scientists from the University of Liverpool have discovered that a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, rilmenidine, may have surprising benefits for slowing aging and increasing lifespan.
In their study, the team observed that animals given rilmenidine at both young and older ages lived longer and had improved health markers, much like animals on a strict low-calorie diet.
Typically, caloric restriction (a reduced-calorie diet) has been the most reliable approach for slowing aging and extending lifespan across many species.
However, while caloric restriction shows clear benefits in animals, its effects on humans have been mixed, often leading to side effects and making it challenging to follow long-term.
For this reason, researchers are interested in finding medications that can mimic the benefits of calorie restriction without requiring major lifestyle changes.
The Liverpool team identified that rilmenidine’s effects on aging are linked to its interaction with a receptor in cells called the I1-imidazoline receptor, also known as nish-1.
This receptor seems to play a role in managing the body’s aging process, and rilmenidine’s ability to activate it may help prolong life and improve overall health.
What sets rilmenidine apart from other drugs studied for anti-aging effects is that it’s already widely prescribed for high blood pressure, taken orally, and is generally well-tolerated, with few and mild side effects.
This makes it more practical and accessible than experimental or complex anti-aging treatments. As a result, the researchers believe rilmenidine has strong potential as a future treatment for aging-related issues in humans.
The team, led by Professor João Pedro Magalhães, is excited to continue exploring whether rilmenidine has additional clinical applications beyond blood pressure management.
They believe that even slightly delaying the aging process could offer significant benefits to individuals and society as populations worldwide continue to age.
Finding safe, widely available drugs with anti-aging properties could pave the way for new strategies to support healthy aging in older adults.
This research was published in the journal Aging Cell and opens up new possibilities for the use of rilmenidine and similar drugs in geroscience, the study of aging and longevity.
By repurposing existing medications to promote healthy aging, researchers hope to unlock new ways to improve both the lifespan and health of people around the world.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
