As we grow older, our bodies naturally begin to slow down. With time, we become more likely to face health problems and diseases.
Scientists around the world are working hard to understand aging and find ways to help us live longer and healthier lives.
One method that has shown promise is called caloric restriction—eating fewer calories while still getting the nutrients our bodies need. In animal studies, this has helped extend life and improve health, but it’s hard to apply in real life, especially for humans.
Some scientists have explored medications that might give the same benefits as caloric restriction, without needing to cut calories. Drugs like metformin, rapamycin, and resveratrol have been tested, but they can have serious side effects or be hard to take.
Now, researchers at the University of Liverpool have found a surprising new candidate: rilmenidine, a medicine already used to treat high blood pressure.
In lab studies, rilmenidine helped worms, fruit flies, and mice live longer. It also made the animals healthier, both when they were young and when they were older. These results were similar to what researchers saw with caloric restriction—but without the need to eat less.
How does it work? The scientists focused on a specific part of the body called the I1-imidazoline receptor, or nischarin-1. They believe this receptor plays a big role in how rilmenidine helps the body stay healthier and live longer. This makes it a promising target for future drug development.
One of the best things about rilmenidine is that it’s already a known drug with a good safety record. It’s taken by mouth and doesn’t usually cause serious side effects. That makes it easier to imagine people using it in the future as part of a plan to stay healthier longer.
As the global population continues to age, even small improvements in health and lifespan could have big effects. If drugs like rilmenidine can help delay aging and reduce the time people spend dealing with chronic diseases, it could improve quality of life for millions.
Still, more research is needed. Scientists must understand exactly how the drug works and whether it can safely help humans live longer and healthier lives. But this study offers hope—and shows how existing medicines might hold the key to fighting the effects of aging.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about high blood pressure treatment: ARBs vs. ACE inhibitors and blood pressure response to exercise can predict future heart disease.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about This daily food is very important for blood pressure and heart health and Common blood pressure medication may have harmful side effects.
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