Mitochondrial Implications in Cardiovascular Aging and Diseases: The Specific Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Shifts

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease has been, and remains, one of the leading causes of death in the modern world. The elderly are a particularly vulnerable group. The aging of the body is inevitably accompanied by the aging of all its systems, and the cardiovascular system is no exception. The aging of the cardiovascular system is a significant risk factor for the development of various diseases and pathologies, from atherosclerosis to ischemic stroke. Mitochondria, being the main supplier of energy necessary for the normal functioning of cells, play an important role in the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. The functioning of each individual cell and the organism as a whole depends on their number, structure, and performance, as well as the correct operation of the system in removing non-functional mitochondria. In this review, we examine the role of mitochondria in the aging of the cardiovascular system, as well as in diseases (for example, atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke). We pay special attention to changes in mitochondrial dynamics since the shift in the balance between fission and fusion is one of the main factors associated with various cardiovascular pathologies.

Dysfunctional mitochondria elicit bioenergetic decline in the aged heart

“…Over the years, clinical investigations have confirmed the preclinical hypotheses demonstrating reduced cardiac expression of PINK1 in elderly patients with heart failure compared with healthy individuals [182] .…”

“…Mitochondrial dynamics, including fusion and fission events, are integral to maintaining mitochondrial function. Imbalances in these dynamic processes have also been implicated in cardiovascular aging [ 100 , 168 , 183 , 184 ] . Excessive fission results in fragmented mitochondria, promoting cellular dysfunction, while impaired fusion compromises mitochondrial networking and bioenergetic efficiency [ 183 , 185 ] .…”

Mitochondrial Fission as a Therapeutic Target for Metabolic Diseases: Insights into Antioxidant Strategies

“…Numerous recent review articles have emphasized the connections among specific metabolic diseases, mitochondrial fission/fusion, and ROS signaling. We recommend that readers interested in exploring this topic further refer to these articles [ 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 ].…”

Analysis and prediction of cardiovascular disease prevalence in middle-aged and elderly men based on machine learning

“…In theory, it is reasonable that the level of CVD risk upgrades considering concomitant aggregated exposure to various other risk factors based on advanced age. Naturally, the aging process is inevitably accompanied by the degradation of all body functions and systems [4], featuring an exacerbated condition in both physical and cognitive ability as well as intensified disease risk such as neurodegenerative and malignant diseases [5]. From a more professional perspective, an emerging opinion is that an increasing number of cellular and subcellular deficits will accumulate in the heart and blood vessels across the aging process, which tends to boost susceptibility to numerous diseases in older individuals [3].…”