Scientists at the University of Liverpool have discovered that a widely used blood pressure drug, rilmenidine, may help extend lifespan and slow down aging. Their research, conducted in animals, suggests that this medication could offer similar benefits to a calorie-restricted diet, which has long been known to promote longevity.
In their study, researchers found that animals treated with rilmenidine—whether at a young or older age—lived longer and showed improved health markers. These findings suggest that the drug might help not only extend lifespan but also improve overall health as people age.
The key to this effect appears to be a receptor in the body called I1-imidazoline receptor (nish-1). The team identified this receptor as an important target for longevity, meaning future treatments could focus on activating it to achieve anti-aging effects.
Unlike some other drugs that have been studied for extending lifespan, rilmenidine is already approved for human use as a treatment for high blood pressure. It is taken as a pill and has few side effects, making it a promising option for future anti-aging treatments.
Currently, one of the best-known ways to slow aging is through caloric restriction, which involves reducing daily food intake while still getting essential nutrients. This method has been shown to extend lifespan in many animal species, but the results in humans have been mixed, and long-term calorie restriction can be difficult and come with side effects.
Because of this, scientists are searching for drugs that can mimic the benefits of calorie restriction without requiring a major change in diet. Rilmenidine appears to be one such drug.
With the global population aging rapidly, researchers believe that even a small delay in aging could have a huge impact. Slowing down the aging process could help people stay healthier for longer, reducing the burden of age-related diseases.
The idea of repurposing existing drugs for longevity is gaining interest, as it could provide faster and safer solutions compared to developing new medications from scratch.
This study, led by Professor João Pedro Magalhães, is the first to show that rilmenidine can extend lifespan in animals. The next step is to explore whether it could have similar benefits for humans. Scientists are eager to investigate whether rilmenidine could be used not just to lower blood pressure but also to improve overall health as people age.
The research was published in the journal Aging Cell and highlights the potential of existing medications to play a role in anti-aging treatments. If future studies confirm its benefits in humans, rilmenidine could become an important tool for promoting healthier aging.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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