Senescence-related myocardial dysfunction: keeping a young heart - PubMed
3 days ago
- #cardiology
- #ageing
- #myocardial dysfunction
- The heart continuously adapts to physiological and pathological changes, including exercise, emotional states, and metabolic or vascular abnormalities.
- Ageing affects the myocardium at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels, impacting its function and regenerative capability.
- Key molecular changes include non-coding RNAs influencing cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction reducing cellular energetics, and telomere shortening limiting regeneration.
- Extracellular vesicles contribute to fibrosis through matrix remodelling, while reactive oxygen species accumulation and steatosis further impair myocardial health.
- Loss of cardiomyocytes and compensatory hypertrophy lead to myocardial stiffness and altered muscle function.
- Indirect factors affecting the ageing myocardium include valve calcification, vascular abnormalities, fibrosis-induced arrhythmias, and autonomic dysregulation.
- Understanding myocardial ageing helps differentiate physiological changes from preventable pathological conditions, optimizing management strategies.
- Potential interventions to modulate cardiac ageing are discussed, emphasizing early detection and reversible pathological changes.