Introduction: The Urgent Need to Combat Vascular Aging
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly among aging populations. As blood vessels age, their structural integrity diminishes — elastic fibers weaken and rupture, and vessel walls thicken and harden through processes such as arteriosclerosis. These changes impair vascular function and contribute significantly to heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events that claim millions of lives each year. Despite advances in therapies, effective interventions that address vascular aging at the cellular and molecular level are urgently needed.
