Scientists from the University of Liverpool have found that a common blood pressure medicine called rilmenidine may slow aging and extend lifespan.
This surprising discovery suggests that a drug already used by many patients could one day help people live longer and stay healthier as they age. Because the medicine is already approved and widely prescribed, researchers are especially interested in its possible new use.
Rilmenidine is taken by mouth to treat high blood pressure. It has been used for many years and is known to be generally safe, with side effects that are uncommon and usually mild. Unlike experimental anti-aging drugs that are still in early testing, rilmenidine is already available in clinics, which makes it easier to study for other health benefits.
In the study, researchers gave rilmenidine to laboratory animals at different ages. They found that both young and older animals lived longer and showed signs of better health compared with untreated animals.
The treated animals also showed physical changes similar to those seen in animals on calorie-restricted diets. Such diets, which reduce calorie intake while still providing enough nutrients, have long been known to slow aging and extend lifespan in many species.
However, strict calorie restriction is difficult for most people to follow and can sometimes cause problems such as tiredness or weaker immunity.
For this reason, scientists have been searching for medicines that can copy the benefits of eating less without requiring people to drastically reduce food intake. Rilmenidine appears to be one of these possible “calorie restriction mimicking” drugs.
The researchers discovered that the drug works by acting on a specific protein in the body called the I1‑imidazoline receptor, also known as nish‑1. This receptor helps control several processes linked to aging and metabolism.
By activating this protein, rilmenidine seems to trigger the same protective responses that occur during calorie restriction, helping cells function better and resist age-related damage.
This is the first time scientists have shown that rilmenidine can extend lifespan in animals. The research team, led by Professor João Pedro Magalhães, believes the drug may have other health benefits that have not yet been explored.
They hope future studies will examine whether the same effects occur in humans and whether the medicine could help prevent diseases related to aging.
The discovery comes at a time when the number of older adults around the world is increasing rapidly. People are living longer than ever before, but many spend their later years dealing with chronic illnesses.
Scientists are now focusing not only on lifespan, but also on “healthspan,” which means the number of years a person remains healthy and independent. A medicine that slows aging could help people stay active for longer and reduce the impact of age-related diseases.
Using existing drugs for new purposes is becoming an important strategy in medical research. Because these medicines have already passed safety testing, developing new uses for them can be faster and less expensive than creating brand‑new drugs. If rilmenidine proves effective in humans, it could become a practical way to support healthy aging in the future.
The study was published in the journal Aging Cell. While more research is needed before doctors can recommend the drug for anti-aging purposes, the findings offer hope that simple treatments may one day help people live not just longer, but better lives.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about what to eat and to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the connection between potato and high blood pressure, and how to eat your way to healthy blood pressure.
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