Exercise and the hallmarks of cardiovascular aging

IF 15.5 1区医学 Q1 CELL BIOLOGY

Ageing Research Reviews Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-22 DOI:10.1016/j.arr.2026.103030

Dan Zhong , Benjamin Fernández-García , Priyanka Gokulnath , Kexin Lin , Guoping Li , Guido Kroemer , Carlos López-Otín , Junjie Xiao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension, heart failure, atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Aging is a predominant risk factor for CVD. Cardiovascular aging is characterized by progressive structural changes at the cellular level and functional decline within the cardiovascular system, ultimately contributing to the onset and progression of CVD. These changes include alterations in left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, an increased incidence of sinus node dysfunction, myocardial hypertrophy, arterial stiffness, and fibrosis. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular aging and identifying interventions that can slow or mitigate its progression holds significant promise for CVD prevention and treatment. Numerous epidemiological and experimental studies have consistently demonstrated that physical activity or exercise training exerts protective effects against cardiovascular aging. However, the molecular mediators and underlying mechanisms of these benefits are not completely understood. Therefore, further investigation is warranted to elucidate these mechanisms, given their potential as novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we comprehensively synthesize molecular, preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological evidence to underscore the positive effects of exercise on cardiovascular aging. This review systematically investigates how exercise modulates the key biological hallmarks of cardiovascular aging, including deterioration of protein homeostasis (proteostasis), genomic instability, epigenetic disturbances, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, and dysregulated neurohormonal signaling. The mechanistic insights of exercise-induced adaptations presented in this review may provide a valuable foundation for future investigations, paving the design of tailored exercise regimens aimed at mitigating the progression of cardiovascular aging.

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运动和心血管老化的标志。

心血管疾病（cvd），包括高血压、心力衰竭、动脉粥样硬化和心肌梗死，仍然是全世界发病率和死亡率的主要原因。衰老是心血管疾病的主要危险因素。心血管衰老的特征是细胞水平的进行性结构改变和心血管系统功能下降，最终导致心血管疾病的发生和发展。这些变化包括左心室收缩和舒张功能的改变，窦房结功能障碍的发生率增加，心肌肥大，动脉僵硬和纤维化。因此，了解心血管老化的分子机制，并确定可以减缓或减轻其进展的干预措施，对心血管疾病的预防和治疗具有重要意义。大量流行病学和实验研究一致表明，体育活动或运动训练对心血管衰老具有保护作用。然而，这些益处的分子介质和潜在机制尚不完全清楚。因此，考虑到它们作为新的治疗靶点的潜力，有必要进一步研究以阐明这些机制。在这篇综述中，我们综合了分子、临床前、临床和流行病学证据来强调运动对心血管衰老的积极作用。这篇综述系统地研究了运动如何调节心血管衰老的关键生物学标志，包括蛋白质稳态（proteostasis）的恶化、基因组不稳定、表观遗传干扰、线粒体功能障碍、细胞衰老、慢性炎症和神经激素信号失调。本综述中提出的运动诱导适应的机制见解可能为未来的研究提供有价值的基础，为设计量身定制的运动方案铺平道路，旨在减缓心血管衰老的进展。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Ageing Research Reviews 医学-老年医学

CiteScore

19.80

自引率

2.30%

发文量

216

审稿时长

55 days

期刊介绍： With the rise in average human life expectancy, the impact of ageing and age-related diseases on our society has become increasingly significant. Ageing research is now a focal point for numerous laboratories, encompassing leaders in genetics, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, and behavior. Ageing Research Reviews (ARR) serves as a cornerstone in this field, addressing emerging trends. ARR aims to fill a substantial gap by providing critical reviews and viewpoints on evolving discoveries concerning the mechanisms of ageing and age-related diseases. The rapid progress in understanding the mechanisms controlling cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival is unveiling new insights into the regulation of ageing. From telomerase to stem cells, and from energy to oxyradical metabolism, we are witnessing an exciting era in the multidisciplinary field of ageing research. The journal explores the cellular and molecular foundations of interventions that extend lifespan, such as caloric restriction. It identifies the underpinnings of manipulations that extend lifespan, shedding light on novel approaches for preventing age-related diseases. ARR publishes articles on focused topics selected from the expansive field of ageing research, with a particular emphasis on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the aging process. This includes age-related diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. The journal also covers applications of basic ageing research to lifespan extension and disease prevention, offering a comprehensive platform for advancing our understanding of this critical field.