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Exercise and the hallmarks of cardiovascular aging
Dan Zhong1, Benjamin Fernández-García2, Priyanka Gokulnath3
1Institute of Geriatrics (Shanghai University), Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong) and School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Nantong 226011, China; Cardiac Regeneration and Ageing Lab, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, Joint International Research Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biotechnology in Organ Repair (Ministry of Education), School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
Regular physical activity combats cardiovascular aging by improving cellular health and function. Exercise training offers protective benefits against age-related heart disease by targeting key molecular mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Aging Research
- Exercise Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death globally, with aging as a primary risk factor.
- Cardiovascular aging involves cellular structural changes and functional decline, increasing CVD risk.
- Understanding aging mechanisms is crucial for CVD prevention and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the positive effects of exercise on cardiovascular aging.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying exercise's benefits.
- To identify exercise-induced adaptations as potential therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive synthesis of molecular, preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological evidence.
- Systematic investigation of exercise's modulation of key aging hallmarks.
- Focus on mechanisms like proteostasis, genomic stability, epigenetics, and mitochondrial function.
Main Results:
- Exercise training demonstrates protective effects against cardiovascular aging.
- Exercise positively impacts hallmarks of aging, including cellular senescence and inflammation.
- Exercise modulates neurohormonal signaling pathways relevant to cardiovascular health.
Conclusions:
- Exercise interventions hold significant promise for mitigating cardiovascular aging.
- Mechanistic insights into exercise adaptations can guide tailored exercise regimens.
- Further research into exercise's molecular effects can advance CVD prevention strategies.
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