Renal ageing: changes in the cellular mechanism of energy metabolism and oxidant handling.

The age-dependent changes in the kidney are often debilitating, can be life-threatening and are a significant cause of increasing health costs worldwide. Excessive fibrosis, a general lack of regenerative ability and an increase in apoptosis in cells that determine healthy renal function work together to cause chronic kidney disease. This review provides information on the molecules and mechanisms that determine the age-dependent effects in the kidney, and in particular, the effects of cellular metabolism and oxidant handling on the ageing kidney. With a better understanding of the influence of ageing on the structural and functional alterations that occur, new targeted therapies may be developed to minimize renal damage and promote health in the elderly.