One of the most widely used painkillers could prevent premature ageing and death by combating inflammation, research suggests.
Scientists uncovered a strong biological link between chronic inflammation caused by an overactive immune system, accelerated ageing and associated diseases, and shortened lifespan.
They also found a cheap and simple antidote to the toxic effects – the common over-the-counter painkiller ibuprofen.
The drug, taken by millions every day to treat headaches, muscle aches, sprains and flu symptoms, “rescued” inflammation-prone mice that were genetically engineered to age fast.
Chronic inflammation is much more than an innocent bystander
In a series of experiments, researchers found that ibuprofen not only quelled the animals’ inflammation but also restored their ageing rate to normal levels.
They believe it could do the same for humans displaying signs of low-grade chronic inflammation, thereby protecting them from the ravages of age.
The team is now preparing for future clinical trials by studying published data from other researchers and looking for inflammation markers in cohorts of patients with age-related diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Lead scientist Thomas von Zglinicki, from the Institute for Ageing and Health at the University of Newcastle, said: “People age differently, some much faster than others.”
“We know already that faster ageing is often associated with activated markers of chronic inflammation. With these results we can now seriously start thinking about inflammation as a potential driver of accelerated ageing and how we might be able to delay it.
“Inflammation has side effects and I really would not advise that everybody should take anti-inflammatories daily. But it might be useful to check chronic inflammation status, and if that is enhanced, there might be a case for using anti-inflammatories.”
He stressed that in the experiments ibuprofen only benefited mice whose rate of ageing had been accelerated. It had no effect on ‘wild-type’ mice with normal levels of inflammation and ageing.
The drug should not be seen as a potential ‘fountain of youth’ panacea with the power to defeat ageing in the average person, warned the professor.
Scientists have long known that inflammation accompanies ageing, but whether or not it plays an active role in the process has been unclear.
The new research, reported in the journal Nature Communications, confirms that chronic inflammation is much more than an innocent bystander.
The ‘knock-out’ mice used in the study lacked a gene that normally limits their inflammatory response but were otherwise completely healthy.
Given the same diet and living conditions as wild-type mice, they aged twice as fast. Mirroring effects seen in humans, they experienced premature hair loss, fur greying, weight loss, impaired neuromuscular co-ordination, and heart problems.
The link between inflammation and ageing was traced to the release of destructive reactive molecules, called oxygen free radicals, which damaged DNA and telomeres – the protective ‘caps’ on chromosomes.
The scientists are now turning their attention to human patients, including one cohort of around 200 people with Parkinson’s disease who may be affected by accelerated ageing.
“Faster biological ageing is linked to a number of age-related conditions, including heart disease and various cancers. Even in people within the normal life span range there can be a big difference. Some might die at 60, others in their seventies, while others make it to 100,” said von Zglinicki.
He added: “There is good epidemiological evidence to show that faster ageing is associated with inflammation.”