Scientists from the University of Liverpool have discovered that rilmenidine, a common drug used to treat high blood pressure, may also help people live longer and stay healthier as they age. Their research shows that rilmenidine can extend lifespan and improve overall health in animals, mimicking the effects of a low-calorie diet.
For many years, scientists have known that eating fewer calories can slow aging and extend life in various species. However, strict calorie restriction is difficult for most people to maintain and may not have the same benefits in humans as it does in animals.
This study suggests that rilmenidine might offer a simpler way to get similar anti-aging effects without requiring major dietary changes.
The researchers tested the drug on animals at both young and old ages. In both cases, those treated with rilmenidine lived longer and had better health markers compared to those that did not receive the drug. The team also found that the drug works through a specific protein called the I1-imidazoline receptor, which could be a promising target for future longevity treatments.
What makes rilmenidine particularly interesting is that it is already widely available as a blood pressure medication. Unlike some experimental anti-aging drugs, it is taken orally, has been safely used for years, and has only mild side effects.
This means it could potentially be repurposed for aging without needing decades of additional testing.
As the world’s population grows older, even small delays in the aging process could have significant benefits. Finding medications that can slow aging and extend healthy life is a key focus of modern research.
This study is the first to show in animals that rilmenidine has this potential, and scientists are now eager to explore whether it could have similar effects in humans.
The research was led by Professor João Pedro Magalhães and his team and was published in the journal Aging Cell. Moving forward, the team hopes to study rilmenidine further to see if it could have other medical uses beyond treating high blood pressure.
If successful, this discovery could open new doors in the search for treatments that help people live longer, healthier lives.
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 information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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