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Ibuprofen is one of the most popular drugs when it comes to headaches and mild migraines. New study reveals that Ibuprofen may extend life with an extra 12 years.
Scientists have tested the painkiller on different organism like flies, worms and yeast and found that Ibuprofen extended their life by at least 15%. Also, researchers discovered that the anti-headache drug made the extra years healthier.
In human terms, the 15% of extended life is the equivalent of about 12 years, 12 healthy years, that is.
The doses of Ibuprofen used by the researchers are similar to the ones millions of people take everyday to treat ailments like headaches, muscle pain or flu symptoms.
The scientists are very excited of their new discovery saying that Ibuprofen is a safe drug, which never misses from the medicine cabinets of many.
One of the experiments involved worms which were given Ibuprofen for all their life. It turned out they lived healthier and longer than usual.
Dr. Chong He, one of the researchers involved in the study said that healthy worms tend to thrash more and longer than they normally do. As the worms aged, they swallowed food faster than usual. Dr. He said the Ibuprofen also extended the lifespan of the worms.
The researchers do not know exactly how the drug slowed the process of aging and how Ibuprofen may extend life, but it appears that it has something to do with the fact that the drug stops the cells from taking up a compound found in eggs, turkey and chocolate, called tryptophan.
Another study involving Ibuprofen, aspirin and other similar painkillers, showed that they may be efficient against skin cancer. The study revealed that Ibuprofen was more effective than aspirin and better protected the body against squamous cell carcinoma.
Scientists believe that Ibuprofen wiped out a chemical the skin produces after being exposed for a long time to the sunlight. This chemical can be one of reasons responsible for the appearance of some cancer types.
The researchers said they need to do more studies in order for a better understanding on how Ibuprofen works and what properties it really has, besides alleviating headaches.
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