A Common Blood Pressure Drug Boosts Lifespan and Slows Aging in Animals

Researchers found that rilmenidine, a hypertension drug, extended lifespan in worms and triggered calorie-restriction-like gene activity in mouse tissues.

The effects depended on the nish-1 receptor, suggesting a specific biological pathway rather than a broad side effect.

The findings raise the possibility that rilmenidine could one day be repurposed to support healthy aging.

But the results are limited to animals, and any benefit in humans remains unproven.