Report on the Potential of Rilmenidine in Advancing Sustainable Development Goal 3

A recent study has identified the hypertension drug rilmenidine as a potential agent for slowing the aging process, presenting significant implications for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. This report summarizes the key findings and their relevance to global health targets.

Key Findings from Pre-clinical Studies

Research published in Aging Cell demonstrates that rilmenidine exhibits anti-aging properties in animal models, aligning with scientific innovation goals that support SDG 3.

Lifespan Extension in C. elegans

The primary investigation involved the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a common model organism in aging research due to genetic similarities with humans. The study yielded the following results:

• Both young and old specimens of C. elegans treated with rilmenidine exhibited a significant increase in lifespan.
• Treated worms also showed improvements in various health markers, indicating a healthier aging process.

Mimicking Caloric Restriction

The effects of rilmenidine were found to be analogous to those of caloric restriction, a known method for extending lifespan in several animal species. Rilmenidine offers a pharmacological alternative to achieve these benefits without the associated risks and difficulties of severe dietary limitation, such as malnutrition or bone fragility. This contributes to SDG 3’s target of promoting well-being.

Corroborative Evidence in Mice

Further tests on mice revealed that rilmenidine treatment induced gene activity in the liver and kidney tissues that is consistent with the effects of caloric restriction. This cross-species validation strengthens the case for its potential translatability to human biology.

Mechanism of Action and Future Research

The study identified a key biological pathway crucial for the drug’s effects, offering a target for future innovations in healthy aging technologies, which supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) as a driver for health outcomes.

The Role of the nish-1 Receptor

A critical discovery was the role of the nish-1 biological signaling receptor. The lifespan-extending properties of rilmenidine were dependent on the presence of this receptor, identifying it as a specific target for future geroprotective therapies.

Implications for Global Health and SDG 3 Targets

The repurposing of an existing, widely-used drug like rilmenidine for anti-aging purposes has profound potential for public health and the advancement of SDG 3, particularly Target 3.4, which seeks to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.

Contribution to Healthy Aging

By potentially delaying the onset of age-related decline and diseases, rilmenidine could be a valuable tool for managing the health of a globally aging population. The benefits include:

1. Reducing the burden of age-related non-communicable diseases.
2. Improving the quality of life in later years.
3. Promoting well-being across all age groups, a central tenet of SDG 3.

Advantages as a Public Health Intervention

Rilmenidine presents a promising candidate for a widely accessible anti-aging intervention due to several factors:

• It is an orally administered medication.
• It is already widely prescribed for hypertension, with a well-documented safety profile.
• Its side effects are generally rare and mild.

As stated by molecular biogerontologist João Pedro Magalhães, “With a global aging population, the benefits of delaying aging, even if slightly, are immense.” This research represents a promising step toward developing accessible and effective strategies to enhance healthy longevity, directly contributing to the ambitious goals set forth by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article focuses on health, discussing a hypertension drug, rilmenidine, and its potential to slow aging, extend lifespan, and improve health markers in later years. This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The article is centered on scientific research and innovation. It details a study conducted by a molecular biogerontologist that explores a new application for an existing drug. This highlights the role of scientific research in advancing health solutions, which is a key component of SDG 9.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

• The article explicitly states that rilmenidine is a drug “normally used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension),” which is a major non-communicable disease (NCD). The research into its anti-aging effects aims to “keep us healthier in our latter years,” directly contributing to the goal of reducing mortality from NCDs and promoting well-being.

Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases.

• The core of the article is the description of a research study on rilmenidine. The text mentions that scientists “are now keen to explore if rilmenidine may have other clinical applications.” This represents a direct effort in the research and development of medicines for conditions related to aging and NCDs.

Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers.

• The article is a report on a scientific study published in the journal Aging Cell. It quotes a “molecular biogerontologist João Pedro Magalhães, from the University of Birmingham,” showcasing the work of R&D personnel. The entire endeavor to find new uses for an existing drug is an example of enhancing scientific research and encouraging innovation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicator for Target 3.4: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease (Indicator 3.4.1).

• This is implied through the drug’s primary use. Rilmenidine is used to treat hypertension, a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease. By treating hypertension, the drug helps reduce mortality from this NCD.

Indicator for Target 3.4: Increased lifespan and improved health markers.

• The article explicitly mentions that in the study, worms “lived longer and presented higher measures in a variety of health markers.” This serves as a direct, measurable outcome related to promoting health and well-being in aging populations.

Indicator for Target 9.5: Researchers per million inhabitants (Indicator 9.5.2).

• The article implicitly points to this indicator by identifying the lead researcher as a “molecular biogerontologist João Pedro Magalhães, from the University of Birmingham.” This highlights the human resource component of scientific research.

Indicator for Target 9.5: Research and development expenditure (Indicator 9.5.1).

• While no specific figures are given, the existence of the study, its publication in a scientific journal (Aging Cell), and the work of university researchers imply that financial resources were allocated to this research and development project.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sciencealert.com