Researchers at Northeastern University and Harvard Medical School have developed a new framework to identify existing drugs that can be repurposed for anti-aging research, according to a study published in Nature Aging. By mapping 1,250 aging-related genes onto the human interactome, the team discovered that these genes cluster around specific biological hallmarks, leading them to identify over-the-counter medications like oxymetazoline as candidates for improving cellular communication.
Mapping the Human Interactome for Aging Genes
The research team started by collecting information on 1,250 genes already associated with one or more hallmarks of aging, according to the study. These genes were then mapped out on the human interactome, which is an existing database containing more than half a million different protein interactions. This protein mapping revealed that genes related to aging do not scatter randomly. Instead, they cluster tightly around specific interactome areas.
“If the genes were spread randomly, there is no way for a drug to specifically affect it because it’s spread all over,” says network scientist Bnaya Gross from Northeastern University. By looking at where these functional clusters overlap, scientists can pinpoint existing pharmaceuticals that potentially influence multiple aging hallmarks simultaneously.
Finding Longevity Clues in Everyday Medications
Finding medications that affect biological aging remains a significant challenge because of the sheer volume of pharmaceuticals available. To streamline this process, the research team screened a list of 6,442 medications from a recognized pharmaceutical database against their newly mapped genetic clusters, factoring in whether specific drugs slow down or accelerate aging processes.
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The newly developed framework led researchers to identify oxymetazoline—commonly found in over-the-counter nasal sprays like Afrin, eye drops, and rosacea creams—as a candidate for improving cell-to-cell communication, a biological function that naturally declines over time. The team also highlighted aspirin as another promising candidate already being investigated for anti-aging properties.
Developing entirely new medical compounds is both costly and time-consuming. Repurposing medicines that are already approved and available for purchase offers a much quicker and cheaper alternative for aging studies, according to the researchers.
The Roadmap for Future Anti-Aging Interventions
Despite identifying promising drug candidates like oxymetazoline, the research team emphasizes that their work is just the beginning. The study does not provide an immediate cure for aging, nor does it guarantee that any specific pharmaceutical will extend human life in clinical practice.
“It offers a roadmap… toward actionable interventions that can be tested in cells, animals and eventually humans,” says network scientist Albert-László Barabási from Northeastern University. Because biological aging involves multiple contributors, future treatments aimed at boosting both lifespan and health span will likely need to target several of these pathways simultaneously.
“The challenge is figuring out which drugs are worth testing,” Barabási notes. With robust frameworks that identify useful drug candidates and clarify their mechanisms, researchers are moving closer to therapies that can genuinely slow the passage of biological time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the human interactome?
The human interactome is an existing database of proteins produced by genes and the more than half a million ways they interact with each other.
How did researchers find anti-aging drug candidates?
According to the study published in Nature Aging, researchers mapped 1,250 aging-related genes onto the human interactome, identified specific gene clusters, and screened them against a database of 6,442 existing medications.
Is oxymetazoline a cure for aging?
No. Network scientist Albert-László Barabási clarifies that the study does not provide a cure for aging or prove that any specific drug extends human life, but rather offers a roadmap for future testing in cells, animals, and humans.
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