Researchers at the University of Liverpool have made a surprising discovery. They found that a common drug used to treat high blood pressure, called rilmenidine, might also help animals live longer and stay healthier as they age.
This finding gives hope that some existing medicines could be used to fight aging and age-related diseases.
Aging is something everyone goes through, and it often brings a decline in how the body works. As people get older, they are more likely to get sick. Scientists have been trying for years to find safe ways to slow aging and help people stay healthier in their later years.
One method that has worked in animals is called caloric restriction. This means eating fewer calories while still getting all the important nutrients. In animal studies, this method has helped increase lifespan. But it’s hard to follow for humans and can lead to side effects like tiredness and a weaker immune system.
Because of this, researchers have been looking for other ways to get the same benefits without the downsides. They have tested drugs like metformin, rapamycin, and resveratrol. These drugs showed some good results in labs but came with problems such as poor absorption, the need for injections, or strong side effects.
That’s where rilmenidine comes in. It’s a pill that is already used safely by many people to treat high blood pressure. It has fewer side effects and can be taken for a long time without causing harm.
In this study, scientists gave rilmenidine to animals at both young and older ages. The animals lived longer and had better health. Their organs worked better, and they showed fewer signs of getting old.
The researchers found that rilmenidine works by targeting something in the body called the I1-imidazoline receptor. This receptor plays an important role in the drug’s positive effects.
By focusing on this receptor, rilmenidine seems to act like caloric restriction—but without needing to change what you eat. This opens the door for new studies looking at this receptor as a possible way to help people live longer and healthier lives.
This finding is especially important because the number of older people is growing around the world. If we can help people stay healthy as they age, even just a little longer, it could make life better for many and lower healthcare costs.
Since rilmenidine is already in use and has a strong safety record, it could be a good choice for future studies in humans. Researchers now need to test whether the same effects seen in animals will also happen in people. They also want to see if rilmenidine can help prevent diseases related to aging, such as heart problems, diabetes, and memory loss.
This discovery is a hopeful step forward in the science of aging. Using existing drugs like rilmenidine could speed up the search for ways to help people age more healthily. While more work is needed, this research gives hope that growing older doesn’t always have to mean getting sicker.
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