A new study shows that Ibuprofen can prolong life by about 12 years. For people with headaches, it has been an effective remedy and popular medicine for all sorts of body pains. However, researchers found out that it may the key to a longer life.
After a series of experiments, researchers have revealed that this popular pain killer has extended the life of worms, yeast and flies by 15 per cent. The good news is, the years of extended life were healthy ones. If the data would be converted to human terms, it would mean 12 extra years of good and healthy life.
According to the study, "There is a lot to be excited about. Ibuprofen is a relatively safe drug found in most people's medicine cabinets. In one of the experiments, worms given ibuprofen throughout life were healthy for longer."
Dr. Chong He from the Buck Institute for Age Research in California and one of the lead researchers said in an interview, "Healthy worms tended to thrash a lot and treated worms thrashed much longer than would normally be expected. As they aged, they also swallowed food much faster than expected. Our preliminary data showed ibuprofen also extended their lifespan."
However, he recommended that there is a need for more research in order to examine and understand the properties. Subsequently, he reiterated that he does not recommend that anyone to start taking in medications without the prescription of a doctor.
Ibuprofen is a relatively safe medicine but can cause side effects like gastric ulcers, indigestion and even hypersensitivity reactions. Thus, seeing a doctor first before taking in medicines is crucial.
The study was published in the journal PLoS Genetics. There are other studies about the wonders of Ibuprofen. In fact, in Newcastle University, researchers have used the same drug to give ageing mice a life extension.
