Jia Huanan, Huang Wei, Liu Chuanfeng, Tang Shiyu, Zhang Jing, Chen Chongli, Tian Yuan, Zhong Wen
Geriatric Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Geriatric Department, Hanyuan County Chinese Medicine Hospital, Ya'an, China.
Ann Transl Med. 2022 Oct;10(20):1142. doi: 10.21037/atm-22-4405.
Aging refers to a progressive decrease in functional performance, leading to increased mortality risk. At present, life expectancy is increasing worldwide and is expected to exceed 80 years by 2040. However, this increase in life expectancy also indicates a rise in the incidence and prevalence of diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, and oncological diseases, which are associated with aging. The exact underlying mechanisms of aging remain unknown, and whether it is a programmed process or the consequence of an accumulation of stress events remains unclear. Thus, more scientific research is needed to improve the management of complex and frail patients.
Several databases were searched with the following key words: immunosenescence, inflamm-aging, frailty, sarcopenia and skeletal muscle, etc.
Skeletal muscle is the core phenotype of frailty and sarcopenia. Immune aging and skeletal muscle decline interplay with each other and form a vicious circle. Maintaining muscle health is beneficial for immune function and delays the onset of frailty. Particularly, in the context of the ongoing corona virus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic, studies have shown that the elderly are more prone to the consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It has been reported that the rates of hospitalization in the 65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years old group were 5×, 8×, and 10× greater than the 18-29 years old group, with corresponding COVID-19-related deaths being 60×, 140×, and 330× that of the younger reference group, respectively. Considering the above, this review aims to discuss the relationship between immunosenescence, skeletal muscle, and frailty, and to explore immunosenescence as a potential therapeutic target to prevent frailty and extend healthspan, with some emphasis on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the elderly.
Immunosenescence is a promising potential therapeutic target for frailty and is worthy of further investigation.
衰老指的是功能表现逐渐下降，导致死亡风险增加。目前，全球预期寿命正在延长，预计到2040年将超过80岁。然而，预期寿命的增加也意味着与衰老相关的疾病发病率和患病率上升，如心血管疾病、神经疾病、肌肉骨骼疾病和肿瘤疾病。衰老的确切潜在机制仍然未知，它是一个程序化过程还是应激事件积累的结果仍不清楚。因此，需要更多科学研究来改善对复杂和虚弱患者的管理。
使用以下关键词搜索了几个数据库：免疫衰老、炎症衰老、虚弱、肌肉减少症和骨骼肌等。
骨骼肌是虚弱和肌肉减少症的核心表型。免疫衰老和骨骼肌衰退相互作用，形成恶性循环。维持肌肉健康有利于免疫功能，并延缓虚弱的发生。特别是，在当前冠状病毒病（COVID）-19大流行的背景下，研究表明老年人更容易受到严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）病毒的影响。据报道，65-74岁、75-84岁和≥85岁年龄组的住院率分别比18-29岁年龄组高5倍、8倍和10倍，相应的与COVID-19相关的死亡率分别是年轻参照组的60倍、140倍和330倍。考虑到上述情况，本综述旨在讨论免疫衰老、骨骼肌和虚弱之间的关系，并探索将免疫衰老作为预防虚弱和延长健康寿命的潜在治疗靶点，同时特别强调COVID-19大流行对老年人的影响。
免疫衰老对于虚弱是一个有前景的潜在治疗靶点，值得进一步研究。
