Kardiovaskulyarnaya Terapiya I Profilaktika · 2026
Mechanisms of brain aging. A review: Part I
By Berns S. A., Veremeev A. V., Lobachev I. M. et al.
This review examines current concepts of brain aging as a complex, multifactorial process affecting the structural, functional, and molecular levels of nervous tissue. Particular attention is paid to age-related changes in neurons and synapses, impaired protein synthesis, the role of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, as well as compensatory neurophysiological mechanisms that maintain cognitive functions despite involutional processes. The review discusses the impact of changes in neurotransmitter systems, reduced regenerative capacity of stem cells, and the contribution of lifestyle factors to the rate of aging. Following key pathogenetic mechanisms corresponding to modern "hallmarks of aging" are highlighted: genomic instability and DNA damage, epigenetic alterations, telomere attrition, impaired proteostasis and autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence of neurons and glia, reduced regenerative potential of neural stem cells, as well as vascular and cardiac remodeling. It is shown that these processes form an interconnected cascade leading to cognitive decline and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding these processes opens perspectives for developing strategies for early diagnosis and comprehensive preventive interventions targeting both neurobiological and cardiovascular components of aging.