A common blood pressure drug might hold the secret to living longer and staying healthier as we age.
Scientists from the University of Liverpool have found that rilmenidine, a medicine already used to treat high blood pressure, may also help slow down the aging process and extend life.
This discovery is exciting because rilmenidine is not a new or experimental drug. It is already prescribed to many people, taken by mouth, and usually causes only mild side effects. That means if it works well for aging, it could become an easy and safe option to help people stay healthy as they get older.
In the study, researchers gave rilmenidine to animals at both young and old ages. They found that the animals lived longer and showed signs of better health, even in later life. These improvements were similar to what scientists have seen in animals on a strict calorie-restricted diet.
For many years, cutting calories has been one of the most reliable ways to slow aging in animals. This kind of diet, often called caloric restriction, involves eating fewer calories than usual while still getting all the nutrients your body needs.
Studies have shown that this can lead to longer life and better health in many different species, from worms to mice.
However, trying to follow a calorie-restricted diet in real life, especially for humans, is difficult. It can cause side effects like fatigue, muscle loss, and mood changes. And most people find it hard to stick to such a strict eating plan over time.
That’s why scientists are looking for ways to copy the effects of calorie restriction without requiring people to drastically change their diets. The hope is to find a drug that gives similar anti-aging benefits without the challenges of eating less.
The researchers in Liverpool discovered that rilmenidine works by targeting a special receptor in cells called the I1-imidazoline receptor, also known as nish-1.
This receptor helps control important processes in the body, including some that are linked to aging. When rilmenidine activates this receptor, it seems to help the body stay healthier for longer.
What makes this study stand out is that rilmenidine is already a known and widely used drug. Unlike other potential anti-aging treatments that are still being tested or are too expensive or hard to get, rilmenidine is practical and easy to use. This opens up exciting possibilities for helping more people age in better health.
The study was led by Professor João Pedro Magalhães and was published in the journal Aging Cell. The team believes that rilmenidine could have other medical uses beyond treating high blood pressure. They are now working to find out if this drug could also help people live longer, healthier lives.
As the world’s population continues to grow older, finding safe and affordable ways to support healthy aging is more important than ever. Even a small delay in aging could lead to big benefits for individuals and society.
This research adds hope that medicines we already have might offer new solutions for staying healthy as we age. By rethinking how we use current drugs, scientists aim to discover simple but powerful ways to improve life for older adults everywhere.
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