Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular aging

Aging is a primary risk factor driving the increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, significantly contributing to global mortality and healthcare burdens. Aging-related alterations, including genomic instability, telomere(definition) shortening, and loss of proteostasis(definition), underpin the pathogenesis of numerous cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and atherosclerosis. Recent insights into molecular and cellular mechanisms highlight the roles of senescence(definition), inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction(definition), and metabolic disturbances in cardiovascular aging. Cellular and vascular senescence further accelerates the development of aging-related cardiovascular diseases. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways, such as metabolic regulators, senolytic agents, antioxidants, stem cell-derived exosomes, and natural bioactive compounds, offer promising avenues for mitigating aging-related cardiovascular pathology.