Scientists identify key mechanisms behind heart and blood vessel aging

Aging is a natural biological process that gradually reduces the body's functional capacity and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new review published in the journal Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications.

The review examines the biological mechanisms linking aging to the development of cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, atherosclerosis, and atrial fibrillation.

According to the authors, aging is accompanied by a wide range of molecular, cellular, and physiological changes that accelerate cardiovascular disease. Key processes include metabolic dysfunction, mitochondrial impairment, chronic inflammation, cellular senescence, age-related changes in immune function, and epigenetic alterations.

The researchers emphasize that a better understanding of these mechanisms is essential for developing strategies to slow cardiovascular aging and reduce the burden of heart disease in older adults.

The review also highlights current approaches to preventing and managing age-related cardiovascular disease, including healthy lifestyle interventions, drug therapies, gerotherapeutic strategies that target the biological processes of aging, and the use of advanced medical devices.

Looking ahead, the authors identify personalized medicine, the discovery of new therapeutic targets, the analysis of large-scale biological datasets, and the application of artificial intelligence as promising directions for improving the prevention and treatment of age-related heart and vascular diseases.

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