A Drug That Prolongs Life and Slows Down Aging... But Only in Worms

The drug "rilmenidine," originally intended for treating high blood pressure, has successfully delayed aging in worms. Researchers are now questioning whether it could work similarly in humans. In a series of tests conducted by an international team of researchers, both young and old worms treated with the drug lived longer and showed improved metrics across various health indicators, similar to the effects of calorie restriction, as hoped by scientists, according to a study published in the journal "Aging Cell." Molecular biologist João Pedro Magalhães from the University of Birmingham in the UK stated, "For the first time, we have been able to demonstrate to animals that this drug can increase lifespan. We are now eager to explore whether the drug has other clinical applications."