So! What's aging? Is cardiovascular aging a disease?

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Gerontology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Aging is characterized by progressive molecular disorder, affecting DNA and cellular environments.
• This disorder compromises cardiovascular reserve function and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
• Molecular and signaling pathways within the heart and arteries undergo significant age-related changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related cardiovascular changes.
• To understand how molecular disorder and inflammation contribute to cardiovascular disease.
• To emphasize the potential of targeting cardiovascular aging in preventive cardiology.

Main Methods:

• Review of molecular and cellular signaling alterations in aging cardiovascular systems.
• Analysis of age-associated changes in DNA, proteome, and cellular repair mechanisms.
• Examination of inflammatory signaling cascades in response to molecular disorder.

Main Results:

• Aging leads to disordered signaling, impaired cell renewal, and altered protein homeostasis in the cardiovascular system.
• Age-associated molecular disorder triggers an inflammatory response, mediated by signaling cascades rather than professional inflammatory cells.
• This inflammation, when exceeding a threshold, contributes to the clinical manifestation of CVDs.

Conclusions:

• Accelerated cardiovascular aging, with its inherent molecular disorder and inflammation, should be considered a form of CVD.
• Lifestyle modifications and pharmacological interventions targeting aging pathways offer promising preventive strategies.
• Integrating the concept of cardiovascular aging as a disease into clinical practice is urgently needed.