Advanced age is a major predisposing risk factor for the incidence of coronary syndromes
and comorbid conditions which impact the heart response to cardioprotective interventions.
Advanced age also significantly increases the risk of developing post-ischaemic adverse
remodelling and heart failure after ischaemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. Some of the
signalling pathways become defective or attenuated during ageing, whereas others with
well-known detrimental consequences, such as glycoxidation or proinflammatory pathways,
are exacerbated. The causative mechanisms responsible for all these changes are yet
to be elucidated and are a matter of active research. Here, we review the current
knowledge about the pathophysiology of cardiac ageing that eventually impacts on the
increased susceptibility of cells to IR injury and can affect the efficiency of cardioprotective
strategies.
