Cardiovascular health and longevity: where are we?
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Hospital Medicine, West Virginia University/Princeton Community Hospital
- 2PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
- 3Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine
- 4Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland, Clinic
- 5Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine
- 6John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School, The University of Queensland School of Medicine
- 7Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Pakistan & Department of Population Health, Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Aga Khan University Medical College
- 8Department of Cardiology I- Coronary and Peripheral Vascular Disease, Heart Failure Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Cardiol
- 9HumanX
Abstract
Cardiovascular health is a key factor in human longevity, affecting not just lifespan but also the quality of aging. We synthesize evidence across four risk factor domains: genetic and epigenetic factors (APOE, FOXO3, telomere biology, epigenetic clocks); metabolic and vascular factors (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, obesity, arterial stiffness); lifestyle determinants (diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep, gut microbiome); and environmental exposure (air and noise pollution, climate stressors, ionizing radiation). These factors influence various biological processes such as oxidative stress, chronic low grade inflammation (inflammaging), mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic disturbances, and changes in telomere length and epigenetics that collectively damage the endothelium, stiffen arteries, promote atherosclerosis, and contribute to overall cardiovascular decline with age. Understanding these processes helps explain why cardiovascular aging is such a strong predictor of mortality. We further summarize the principal intervention strategies with evidence for improving cardiovascular health and longevity, such as adherence to the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 construct, heart-healthy dietary patterns(Mediterranean, DASH), smoking cessation, sleep optimization, and reduction of environmental exposures. This narrative review distinguishes evidence derived from model organisms, human observational cohorts, and human interventional/genetic studies, since these evidence tiers differ substantially in their support for lifespan or longevity extending claims specifically, as opposed to cardiovascular risk reduction more broadly.
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BibTeX
@article{seri2026cardiovascular,
title = {{Cardiovascular health and longevity: where are we?}},
author = {Amith Seri and Bing Yue and Muzamil Khawaja and W. H. Wilson Tang and Yochai Birnbaum and Carl J. Lavie and Salim S. Virani and Markus Strauss and Chayakrit Krittanawong},
journal = {Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fcvm.2026.1921582},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2026.1921582/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cardiovascular health and longevity: where are we?
AU - Amith Seri
AU - Bing Yue
AU - Muzamil Khawaja
AU - W. H. Wilson Tang
AU - Yochai Birnbaum
AU - Carl J. Lavie
AU - Salim S. Virani
AU - Markus Strauss
AU - Chayakrit Krittanawong
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
DO - 10.3389/fcvm.2026.1921582
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2026.1921582/full
AB - Cardiovascular health is a key factor in human longevity, affecting not just lifespan but also the quality of aging. We synthesize evidence across four risk factor domains: genetic and epigenetic factors (APOE, FOXO3, telomere biology, epigenetic clocks); metabolic and vascular factors (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, obesity, arterial stiffness); lifestyle determinants (diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep, gut microbiome); and environmental exposure (air and noise pollution, climate stressors, ionizing radiation). These factors influence various biological processes such as oxidative stress, chronic low grade inflammation (inflammaging), mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic disturbances, and changes in telomere length and epigenetics that collectively damage the endothelium, stiffen arteries, promote atherosclerosis, and contribute to overall cardiovascular decline with age. Understanding these processes helps explain why cardiovascular aging is such a strong predictor of mortality. We further summarize the principal intervention strategies with evidence for improving cardiovascular health and longevity, such as adherence to the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 construct, heart-healthy dietary patterns(Mediterranean, DASH), smoking cessation, sleep optimization, and reduction of environmental exposures. This narrative review distinguishes evidence derived from model organisms, human observational cohorts, and human interventional/genetic studies, since these evidence tiers differ substantially in their support for lifespan or longevity extending claims specifically, as opposed to cardiovascular risk reduction more broadly.
SN - 2297-055X
ER -