The potential of marine-derived compounds in geroscience

Abstract

Aging is a natural, multifactorial biological process characterized by progressive cellular and tissue damage in response to various stressors, leading to functional decline that often affects multiple organs, contributing to the development of age-related diseases. Although life expectancy has increased significantly, age-related conditions have become the leading causes of impairment and disability in the elderly, becoming a major global health concern. This highlights the need for innovative, multitarget strategies to modulate the aging process and extend healthspan. In recent years, researchers have explored natural solutions to counteract the hallmarks of aging. Among these, marine-derived molecules represent an up-and-coming niche of bioactive compounds, distinguished by their unique structural diversity and multifunctional properties. Marine products are increasingly studied for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties, targeting key pathways involved in aging, such as cellular senescence, genomic instability, impaired autophagy, and chronic inflammation. In this review, we aim to (i) explore the field of marine-derived bioactive molecules which demonstrated effects on lifespan extension, (ii) summarize studies showing their capacity to target one or more hallmarks of aging, (iii) highlight those that exhibit therapeutic potential in age-related diseases – including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic, cancer, musculoskeletal, and chronic pulmonary disorders. Their multitarget activity makes them attractive candidates for the prevention or treatment of age-related diseases, and several have shown promising results in preclinical studies. However, only a limited number of these compounds have progressed to late-stage clinical trials, highlighting the need for further translational research, which may pave the way for novel anti-aging therapeutic strategies.