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Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease an Accelerated Aging Disease?
1Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Annals of the American Thoracic Society
|December 23, 2016
Summary
Aging accelerates lung degeneration, mirroring changes seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Understanding these age-related mechanisms in COPD could lead to new treatments for this widespread respiratory condition.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pulmonology
- Pathology
Background:
- Aging is a primary risk factor for chronic diseases, increasing morbidity and mortality globally.
- Lung aging involves decreased function, reduced stress response, and structural changes similar to those in COPD.
- COPD prevalence is significantly higher in older adults, leading to its consideration as accelerated lung aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the mechanisms of age-related changes in the lungs.
- To investigate the parallels between normal lung aging and COPD.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for COPD based on aging pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on aging, lung function, and COPD.
- Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms linking aging and COPD.
- Comparison of age-associated changes (e.g., inflammaging, immunosenescence) with COPD pathology.
Main Results:
- Cell senescence and shortened telomeres are observed in emphysematous lungs, indicating accelerated aging in COPD.
- Elevated inflammation and oxidative stress (inflammaging) increase with age, mirroring COPD.
- Age-related immunosenescence affects innate and adaptive immunity, potentially exacerbating COPD.
Conclusions:
- Shared aging mechanisms, including inflammaging and immunosenescence, are present in COPD lungs.
- These age-related changes may enhance COPD activity and susceptibility to exacerbations.
- Further understanding of age-related lung changes in COPD can inform novel therapeutic strategies.
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