Aging Dis. 2025 Nov 9. doi: 10.14336/AD.2025.1108. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have long been the leading cause of mortality among the elderly worldwide. Despite substantial progress, a complete understanding of the initiation and progression of CVDs remains elusive. Emerging evidence suggests that the risk of developing CVDs increases with aging and prolonged insulin resistance (IR). Insulin is a key metabolic hormone crucial for regulating glucose and lipid metabolism in various tissues. An impaired tissue response to insulin stimulation results in IR. With aging, pathological changes such as visceral obesity, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress collectively exacerbate IR, leading to dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. These conditions highlight IR as a critical factor linking aging to various CVDs, including atherosclerosis, heart failure, and hypertension. Thus, preventing IR is essential for preserving cardiac function. In this review, the pathological mechanisms of IR in elderly individuals are summarized, emphasizing their association with aging-related CVDs. Additionally, potential therapeutic targets associated with IR for treating CVDs are discussed, along with current limitations and future directions for cardiac recovery strategies.
PMID:41296934 | DOI:10.14336/AD.2025.1108