researchers of the university of liverpool (UK) have discovered that the drug rilmenidinecurrently used to treat high blood pressure, can extend life and slow aging.
The results, published in the scientific journal ‘Aging Cell’, show that animals treated with rilmenidine, which is currently used to treat hypertension, at early and advanced ages increased life expectancy and improved health markers, mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.
They also demonstrate that the health benefits and life expectancy of rilmenidine treatment in roundworm ‘C. elegans’ they are mediated by the I1-imidazoline nish-1 receptor, which identifies this receptor as a potential longevity target.
Unlike other drugs previously studied for this purpose by researchers, rilmenidine, a widely prescribed oral antihypertensive, It has the possibility of being transferred to humans in the future, since its side effects are few and not serious..
To date, the calorie-restricted diet has been considered the most robust anti-aging intervention, as it promotes longevity in all species.
However, studies of caloric restriction in humans have had mixed results and side effects, which means that the most reasonable anti-aging strategy is to find drugs like rilmenidine that can mimic the benefits of calorie restriction. caloric restriction.
“With an aging world population, the benefits of delaying aging, even slightly, are immense. The repurposing of drugs capable of prolonging life and health expectancy has enormous untapped potential in translational geroscience. For the first time we have been able to demonstrate in animals that rilmenidine can increase life expectancy. We are now interested in exploring whether rilmenidine may have other clinical applications,” said Professor João Pedro Magalhães, who led the research while at the University of Liverpool and now works at the University of Birmingham.
report a bug