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Immunity, Vascular Aging and Stroke

Anna-Maria Louka1, Dimitrios Sagris1, George Ntaios1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.

Current Medicinal Chemistry
|January 4, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Aging and chronic inflammation accelerate vascular aging and atherosclerosis, increasing stroke risk. This review explores how immune responses, oxidative stress, and aging mechanisms contribute to cerebrovascular damage and cognitive decline.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Immunology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Stroke is a major cardiovascular disease complication.
  • Aging, hypertension, and atherosclerosis are key stroke risk factors, impacting cerebrovascular structure and function.
  • Immune system activation influences atherosclerosis, vascular aging, and various stroke types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathophysiological roles of aging mechanisms in the immune system.
  • To discuss the interplay between aging, immunity, and cerebrovascular dysfunction.
  • To explore links between inflammation, oxidative stress, and stroke-related conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of in vitro and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging.
  • Examination of immune system involvement in vascular pathologies.

Main Results:

  • Aging is associated with chronic inflammation involving immune cells like macrophages and lymphocytes.
  • Oxidative stress and vascular inflammation correlate with endothelial dysfunction and blood-brain barrier disruption.
  • These factors contribute to vascular stiffness, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Conclusions:

  • The immune system plays a critical role in aging-related vascular dysfunction and stroke.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies against stroke and cognitive decline.
  • Interplay between aging, immunity, and vascular health impacts cerebrovascular integrity.

Keywords:
Innate immunityblood-brain barriercardiovascular risk factorsstrokevascular agingvascular dysfunction

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