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Pharmacological Strategies to Retard Cardiovascular Aging

Irene Alfaras1, Clara Di Germanio1, Michel Bernier1

  • 1From the Experimental Gerontology Section, Translational Gerontology Branch (I.A., C.D.G., M.B., R.d.C.) and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science (E.G.L.), National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy (C.D.G.); and Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK (A.C., Z.U.).

Circulation Research
|May 14, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Aging accelerates cardiovascular disease, the top US killer. New research explores calorie restriction and related therapies to improve heart health and extend lifespan by targeting aging mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Gerontology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the primary cause of death in the US, with aging as the main risk factor.
  • Conventional CVD prevention focuses on hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and high triglycerides.
  • Emerging preclinical research highlights novel strategies targeting aging processes for CVD prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanistic effects of aging on the cardiovascular system.
  • To explore the cardiovascular benefits of prolongevity interventions, including calorie restriction and its mimetics.
  • To discuss therapeutic strategies that promote cardiovascular healthspan and lifespan.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies on aging and cardiovascular health.
  • Analysis of mechanistic pathways linking aging to cardiovascular dysfunction.
  • Evaluation of the efficacy of calorie restriction and pharmacological interventions in preclinical models.

Main Results:

  • Aging detrimentally affects cardiovascular structure and function through various molecular and cellular pathways.
  • Calorie restriction consistently extends lifespan and delays age-related diseases in animal models.
  • Calorie restriction mimetics and other interventions show promise in mitigating age-related cardiovascular decline.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting aging mechanisms offers a promising new avenue for cardiovascular disease prevention.
  • Therapeutic strategies that promote longevity may concurrently enhance cardiovascular health.
  • Further research into calorie restriction and related interventions is warranted to translate preclinical findings into clinical practice.

Keywords:
agingcalorie restrictioncardiovascular diseasespharmacological strategiesprevention

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