[Vascular dysfunction: processes due to aging, approaches to restorative therapy and prevention (part 1).]

Currently, clinical, genetic and environmental factors of aging have been identified; it has been established that signs of human aging can be attributed to diseases due to their compliance with ICD-11 criteria. Causal events leading from endothelial dysfunction to the development of atherosclerosis are associated with age-related changes and aging. In this regard, much attention is paid to the study of biological aging in humans, which will stimulate the development of new therapeutic strategies. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) increases significantly with age. Risk factors and predictors of cardiovascular events, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, are observed with greater frequency in older people. The main factor in vascular aging is endothelial dysfunction, characterized by impaired endothelium-dependent signaling processes. Vascular endothelium plays a fundamental role in the regulation of vascular tone and structure, maintaining vascular homeostasis through complex interactions with cells in the wall and lumen of the vessel, balancing the production of vasodilators, the main one of which is nitric oxide (NO). Endogenously generated NO has, in addition to paracrine, an endocrine function, causes a remote physiological reaction in various organs and stimulates cellular signaling. Endothelial dysfunction is defined as combined changes in the endothelial phenotype that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndromes. Activities aimed at eliminating endothelial dysfunction lead to a decrease in the risk of developing CVD.