New Trends in Biologically Active Compounds in Age-Related Diseases
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2024 | Viewed by 1020
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Age-related diseases are those that are more likely to occur as people age and can be caused by a variety of factors, including exposure to harmful environmental factors and genetic conditions. Some of these diseases include cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Several limiting factors are beneficial for the prevention and treatment of these diseases, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, etc.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in cell function, as when they are produced in excess, they can cause cell damage. Oxidative stress has been linked to a wide range of age-related diseases.
Researchers have been exploring the potential of biologically active compounds (BACs) to combat age-related diseases. BACs are natural or synthetic substances that exhibit biological activity, and they are found in a variety of sources, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.
There are several notable trends in BAC research for age-related diseases:
- A focus on specific pathways: Researchers are increasingly targeting specific pathways involved in age-related disease processes. This targeted approach is expected to lead to more effective and safer therapies.
- The development of multi-functional BACs: The development of BACs with multiple functionalities is gaining traction. These compounds could address multiple aspects of age-related diseases, potentially offering more comprehensive therapeutic benefits.
- Translational research: There is a growing emphasis on translating BAC research into clinical trials. This focus aims to expedite the development of effective therapies for age-related diseases.
Biologically active compounds play a significant role in age-related diseases through various molecular pathways. Here are some key points:
- “Oxidative Stress and Inflammation”: These are two major pathways leading to senescence. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuins (SIRTs), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and p53 are key regulators of metabolic control, connecting aging to the pathways that drive diseases.
- “Energy Failure”: Mitochondrial dysfunction and deregulated autophagy are also significant contributors to age-related diseases.
- “Nutrigenomics”: Dietary components have substantive effects on metabolic health. Bioactive molecules capable of selectively modulating specific metabolic pathways affect the development/progression of cardiovascular and neoplastic disease.
- “Epigenetic Alterations”: Chronic metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes share many physiological characteristics with the aging process, such as an increased burden of senescent cells and epigenetic alterations.
These pathways and mechanisms are complex and interconnected, and their understanding can lead to improved diagnostic procedures and therapeutic strategies targeting processes relevant to nutrition and lifestyle.
Future research is expected to focus on addressing these challenges and translating promising BACs into effective therapies for age-related diseases. This could lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life of older adults and reduce the global burden of these diseases.
Prof. Dr. Celia Andrés Juan
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- age-related diseases
- oxidative stress and inflammation
- energy failure
- mitochondrial dysfunction
- deregulated autophagy
