Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Department of Public Health Laboratory, National Public Health Centre, Budapest, Hungary.
Geroscience. 2023 Dec;45(6):3381-3408. doi: 10.1007/s11357-023-00913-3. Epub 2023 Sep 9.
The aging population worldwide is facing a significant increase in age-related non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular and brain pathologies. This comprehensive review paper delves into the impact of the exposome, which encompasses the totality of environmental exposures, on unhealthy aging. It explores how environmental factors contribute to the acceleration of aging processes, increase biological age, and facilitate the development and progression of a wide range of age-associated diseases. The impact of environmental factors on cognitive health and the development of chronic age-related diseases affecting the cardiovascular system and central nervous system is discussed, with a specific focus on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, small vessel disease, and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Aging is a major risk factor for these diseases. Their pathogenesis involves cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging such as increased oxidative stress, impaired mitochondrial function, DNA damage, and inflammation and is influenced by environmental factors. Environmental toxicants, including ambient particulate matter, pesticides, heavy metals, and organic solvents, have been identified as significant contributors to cardiovascular and brain aging disorders. These toxicants can inflict both macro- and microvascular damage and many of them can also cross the blood-brain barrier, inducing neurotoxic effects, neuroinflammation, and neuronal dysfunction. In conclusion, environmental factors play a critical role in modulating cardiovascular and brain aging. A deeper understanding of how environmental toxicants exacerbate aging processes and contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, VCI, and dementia is crucial for the development of preventive strategies and interventions to promote cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and brain health. By mitigating exposure to harmful environmental factors and promoting healthy aging, we can strive to reduce the burden of age-related cardiovascular and brain pathologies in the aging population.
世界范围内的老龄化人口正面临着与年龄相关的非传染性疾病（包括心血管和脑部疾病）的显著增加。这篇全面的综述文章深入探讨了暴露组学（包含了所有环境暴露因素）对非健康老龄化的影响。它探讨了环境因素如何加速衰老过程、增加生物年龄，并促进广泛的与年龄相关的疾病的发展和进展。文章还讨论了环境因素对认知健康的影响，以及影响心血管系统和中枢神经系统的慢性与年龄相关疾病的发展，特别关注了阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病、中风、小血管疾病和血管性认知障碍（VCI）。衰老本身是这些疾病的一个主要风险因素。它们的发病机制涉及到衰老的细胞和分子机制，如氧化应激增加、线粒体功能障碍、DNA 损伤和炎症，并且受到环境因素的影响。环境毒物，包括环境颗粒物、农药、重金属和有机溶剂，已被确定为导致心血管和大脑衰老紊乱的重要因素。这些毒物可以造成大血管和微血管损伤，其中许多毒物也可以穿过血脑屏障，引起神经毒性、神经炎症和神经元功能障碍。总之，环境因素在调节心血管和大脑衰老方面起着关键作用。深入了解环境毒物如何加剧衰老过程并导致神经退行性疾病、VCI 和痴呆的发病机制，对于制定预防策略和干预措施以促进心血管、脑血管和大脑健康至关重要。通过减轻对有害环境因素的暴露并促进健康老龄化，我们可以努力减轻老龄化人口中心血管和大脑相关疾病的负担。
