Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Aging, oxidative stress and degenerative diseases: mechanisms, complications and emerging therapeutic strategies

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Biogerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aging accompanied by several age-related complications, is a multifaceted inevitable biological progression involving various genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The major factor in this process is oxidative stress, caused by an abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ROS and RNS pose a threat by disrupting signaling mechanisms and causing oxidative damage to cellular components. This oxidative stress affects both the ER and mitochondria, causing proteopathies (abnormal protein aggregation), initiation of unfolded protein response, mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal cellular senescence, ultimately leading to inflammaging (chronic inflammation associated with aging) and, in rare cases, metastasis. RONS during oxidative stress dysregulate multiple metabolic pathways like NF-κB, MAPK, Nrf-2/Keap-1/ARE and PI3K/Akt which may lead to inappropriate cell death through apoptosis and necrosis. Inflammaging contributes to the development of inflammatory and degenerative diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and retinopathy. The body’s antioxidant systems, sirtuins, autophagy, apoptosis, and biogenesis play a role in maintaining homeostasis, but they have limitations and cannot achieve an ideal state of balance. Certain interventions, such as calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, dietary habits, and regular exercise, have shown beneficial effects in counteracting the aging process. In addition, interventions like senotherapy (targeting senescent cells) and sirtuin-activating compounds (STACs) enhance autophagy and apoptosis for efficient removal of damaged oxidative products and organelles. Further, STACs enhance biogenesis for the regeneration of required organelles to maintain homeostasis. This review article explores the various aspects of oxidative damage, the associated complications, and potential strategies to mitigate these effects.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

The authors authenticate that they have prepared the intellectual content of this paper and have complied with the following three requirements: (a) material contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; (b) drafting or revising the article for intellectual content; and (c) final approval of the article as published.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Murtaza Mehdi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Mani Raj Chaudhary, Sakshi Chaudhary, Yogita Sharma, Thokchom Arjun Singh, Alok Kumar Mishra, Shweta Sharma, Mohammad Murtaza Mehdi are not associated with or involved in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria, consultancies, membership, educational grants, employment, speaking engagements, stock ownership, or other equity interest, expert testimony, or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as a personal or professional relationship).

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chaudhary, M.R., Chaudhary, S., Sharma, Y. et al. Aging, oxidative stress and degenerative diseases: mechanisms, complications and emerging therapeutic strategies. Biogerontology 24, 609–662 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-023-10050-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-023-10050-1

Keywords

Navigation