Aging Changes the Heart’s Response to Injury
As we age, our heart becomes less capable of regenerating from injury, making it one of the least regenerative organs in the body. Cardiovascular disease can lead to heart injury, and the aging body struggles to compensate compared to younger individuals. Finding solutions to this problem is crucial, even in a world where cardiovascular disease is prevented. Research on cardiac regeneration in aged individuals is scarce, but understanding the changes that occur in the heart as we age is essential. The heart’s ability to respond to increased workload diminishes with age, leading to various issues like diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. Young and aged adults respond differently to cardiac injury due to these age-related changes.
In younger adults, cardiac injury triggers a robust inflammatory response that leads to the removal of dead cells and the formation of stable scars. However, in older individuals, the inflammatory response is muted, resulting in delayed healing and weaker scar formation. This weakened response affects cardiac function and can lead to complications like systolic dysfunction and dilative remodeling. The diminished immune and fibroblast responses in aged hearts lower their ability to handle stressors effectively.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107682
