Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine interventions for aging-related nervous system diseases.

Abstract

Aging-related neurological disorders, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), epilepsy, and various neuroinflammatory conditions, affect over three billion individuals worldwide and constitute leading causes of morbidity, disability, and socioeconomic burdens. Aging contributes not only to the increased incidence of these disorders but also to their progression through interconnected mechanisms, including endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, metabolic imbalance, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. These processes collectively impair neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive and motor functions. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its characteristic multi-component and multi-target therapeutic strategies, has emerged as a promising approach to counteract age-associated neurological decline. Accumulating preclinical studies suggest that TCM interventions may exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, modulate autophagy, restore metabolic homeostasis, and potentially delay cellular senescence. However, high-quality clinical evidence on safety and efficacy remains limited. This review summarizes current insights into the molecular interplay between aging and neurological disorders and highlights the therapeutic potential of TCM in targeting hallmarks of aging, providing perspectives for integrative prevention and treatment strategies for neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases.