Hallmarks of cardiovascular ageing

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular biology and aging research.

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.
• Maintaining cardiovascular health is crucial for promoting both organismal healthspan and lifespan.
• Cardiovascular aging may precede or underlie age-related health deterioration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common molecular hallmarks of cardiovascular aging.
• To propose a hierarchical order for these hallmarks.
• To discuss therapeutic strategies targeting these hallmarks to reduce cardiovascular risk in older individuals.

Main Methods:

• This review synthesizes current research on molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular aging.
• It proposes a framework of eight common molecular hallmarks.
• It discusses potential therapeutic interventions based on these hallmarks.

Main Results:

• Eight molecular hallmarks common to cardiovascular aging are identified: disabled macroautophagy, loss of proteostasis, genomic instability (including clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential), epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell senescence, dysregulated neurohormonal signaling, and inflammation.
• A hierarchical order distinguishing primary (upstream) from antagonistic and integrative (downstream) hallmarks is proposed.
• Therapeutic targeting of these hallmarks is discussed as a strategy to attenuate residual cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular aging is characterized by eight interconnected molecular hallmarks.
• Understanding the hierarchy of these hallmarks is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Targeting these hallmarks offers potential therapeutic avenues to improve cardiovascular healthspan and lifespan in aging populations.