14 Drugs that Increase Human Lifespan

Best Longevity Drugs: Insights from Recent Research

A groundbreaking study has analyzed a vast database to identify links between existing drugs and human lifespan. Out of more than 400 drugs reviewed, only 14 demonstrated a positive correlation with increased longevity. This research highlights the emerging field of geroscience, which investigates how drugs designed for various indications might also slow aging.

Although significant advancements have been observed in animal models, human lifespan studies remain elusive due to the challenges of conducting long-term trials.

Rapamycin and Metformin: Mixed Results

Rapamycin, primarily used as an immune suppressant, is one of the most effective pro-longevity interventions in mice. However, no human lifespan clinical studies have been conducted to confirm these findings. Epidemiological studies, such as those on metformin, have sparked debate. Initial studies suggested that diabetic patients on metformin lived longer than healthy individuals not taking the drug. However, subsequent research has cast doubt on these findings, and rigorous mouse trials in the Interventions Testing Program (ITP) failed to show lifespan benefits.

Large-Scale Analysis Using UK Biobank Data

The recent study, led by geroscientist Alejandro Ocampo and colleagues, utilized data from the UK Biobank, a comprehensive repository of health data from over 500,000 British citizens. This dataset included 56 million prescriptions for more than 200,000 participants. Researchers analyzed the effects of 406 drugs prescribed to at least 500 patients and found that 169 drugs influenced lifespan. Most of these were associated with shorter lifespans, likely due to the underlying conditions they treat or their side effects. However, 14 drugs demonstrated a positive influence on human lifespan.

Notable Drugs Linked to Longevity

Among the 14 drugs positively associated with increased lifespan, the cholesterol-lowering statin atorvastatin showed a 9% reduction in mortality risk. Statins, considered one of modern medicine’s significant successes, have a strong safety profile and substantial sales, expected to reach $22 billion by 2032. Naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used for arthritis, was linked to a 10% decrease in mortality risk. Chronic inflammation, a hallmark of aging, may explain naproxen’s benefits, though the exact mechanisms remain uncertain.

Viagra, known for its vessel-dilating properties, was associated with a 15% reduction in mortality risk. Researchers speculated that healthier individuals may be more likely to use the drug, though its precise role in lifespan extension remains unclear. Estrogen-related drugs also showed significant effects, with Estraderm, Vagifem, estriol, and estradiol reducing mortality risk by 33%, 27%, 26%, and 25%, respectively. These findings align with research linking menopause-related estrogen decline to poorer health, which can be mitigated through hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Other notable drugs included the contraceptive Marvelon and two vaccines, Avaxim and Revaxis. Interestingly, metformin did not show any lifespan benefits in this study, nor was rapamycin mentioned, likely due to its infrequent prescription.

Drug Classes and Longevity

The study also examined drug classes. Statins, as a group, were associated with reduced mortality risk. SGLT-2 inhibitors, a class of anti-diabetes drugs, showed even more substantial benefits, with a 36% reduction in mortality risk, although the sample size was smaller than for metformin. Canagliflozin, an SGLT-2 inhibitor, has also demonstrated lifespan extension in mouse studies conducted by the ITP.

Limitations and Future Directions

While this large-scale analysis offers valuable insights, it also underscores the challenges of epidemiological studies. Correlation does not imply causation, and many confounding variables remain unaccounted for. Nonetheless, as datasets grow and methodologies improve, further studies may identify existing drugs with potential geroprotective effects. This research represents a promising step toward leveraging current pharmacology to enhance human longevity.

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Study Links:

[1] Morin, J., Rolland, Y., Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Ocampo, A., & Perez, K. (2024). Association between prescription drugs and all-cause mortality risk in the UK population. medRxiv, 2024-03.

[2] Bannister, C. A., Holden, S. E., Jenkins‐Jones, S., Morgan, C. L., Halcox, J. P., Schernthaner, G., … & Currie, C. J. (2014). Can people with type 2 diabetes live longer than those without? A comparison of mortality in people initiated with metformin or sulphonylurea monotherapy and matched, non‐diabetic controls. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 16(11), 1165-1173.

[3] Stevenson-Hoare, J., Leonenko, G., & Escott-Price, V. (2023). Comparison of long-term effects of metformin on longevity between people with type 2 diabetes and matched non-diabetic controls. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 804.

[4] Harrison, D. E., Strong, R., Reifsnyder, P., Kumar, N., Fernandez, E., Flurkey, K., … & Miller, R. A. (2021). 17‐a‐estradiol late in life extends lifespan in aging UM‐HET3 male mice; nicotinamide riboside and three other drugs do not affect lifespan in either sex. Aging Cell, 20(5), e13328.

[5] Miller, R. A., Harrison, D. E., Allison, D. B., Bogue, M., Debarba, L., Diaz, V., … & Strong, R. (2020). Canagliflozin extends life span in genetically heterogeneous male but not female mice. JCI insight, 5(21).