As people get older, their bodies go through many changes. One important change happens in the blood vessels.
Over time, blood vessels can become stiffer and less flexible. This makes it harder for blood to flow smoothly, which can increase the risk of heart disease. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death, especially in older adults.
A new study published in the journal GeroScience has found that a drug already used to treat type 2 diabetes may also help improve the health of blood vessels during aging. The drug is called empagliflozin. It belongs to a group of medicines known as SGLT2 inhibitors. These drugs help lower blood sugar by removing extra glucose through urine.
The research was carried out by scientists at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. They wanted to understand how aging affects blood vessels and whether this diabetes drug could help reduce those effects.
First, the researchers looked at people of different ages. They studied 18 healthy young adults with an average age of 25 and compared them with 18 older adults with an average age of 61. They measured how well the blood vessels worked and how stiff they were.
The results showed clear differences. The older adults had poorer blood vessel function. Their blood vessels were also stiffer, especially in the aorta, which is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This confirms what many earlier studies have already shown, that aging can harm the health of blood vessels.
To explore possible treatments, the scientists then turned to animal studies. They used older male mice that were about the same age in their life span as older humans. These mice were divided into two groups. One group was given food mixed with empagliflozin for six weeks, while the other group received normal food.
After six weeks, the researchers compared the two groups. The mice that received the drug showed better blood vessel function. Their arteries were less stiff, and overall, their vascular health improved. This suggests that the drug may help slow down or even reverse some of the effects of aging on blood vessels.
This finding is important because current treatments for improving blood vessel health, such as exercise, weight loss, and medications for blood pressure or cholesterol, do not always work equally well for everyone. There is still a need for new approaches that can better protect the heart and blood vessels as people age.
The researchers believe that empagliflozin could be one of these new approaches. Since it is already approved for use in people with diabetes, it may be easier to study and possibly use for other purposes in the future.
However, it is important to understand that this study has limitations. The most important point is that the improvement was seen in mice, not in humans. While animal studies can provide useful clues, they do not always translate directly to human health. More clinical studies in people are needed to confirm whether the same benefits occur.
Another limitation is that the human part of the study only compared younger and older adults. It did not test the drug in these participants. Therefore, we do not yet know how effective the drug would be for improving blood vessel health in aging humans.
In reviewing the findings, the study provides exciting early evidence that a common diabetes drug may have additional benefits beyond controlling blood sugar. It suggests a possible new way to support healthy aging. At the same time, the results should be interpreted with caution.
The research is still at an early stage, and more studies are needed before this treatment can be widely recommended for aging-related vascular problems. If future research confirms these results, it could lead to new strategies to reduce heart disease risk and improve quality of life for older adults.
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Source: University of Missouri.
