Molecular Mechanisms of Physiological Aging: Hallmarks, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways to Healthy Longevity
Shannour, N., Elshawarby, R., Abdelaleem, N., Amin, R., Ali, A., Hikal, A., Elmorsy, E., Mustari, A., Atwa, A., Taher, E., Mohammed, D., Abdal Dayem, A., Amer, S., Abdeen, A. (2025). Molecular Mechanisms of Physiological Aging: Hallmarks, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways to Healthy Longevity. EKB Journal Management System, 48(2), 1-10. doi: 10.21608/bvmj.2025.365866.1936
Naiera Shannour; Ragab Elshawarby; Nabila Abdelaleem; Radwa Amin; Alzahraa Ali; Ahmed Hikal; Ekramy Elmorsy; Afrina Mustari; Ahmed Atwa; Ehab Taher; Dania Mohammed; Ahmed Abdal Dayem; Saad Amer; Ahmed Abdeen. "Molecular Mechanisms of Physiological Aging: Hallmarks, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways to Healthy Longevity". EKB Journal Management System, 48, 2, 2025, 1-10. doi: 10.21608/bvmj.2025.365866.1936
Shannour, N., Elshawarby, R., Abdelaleem, N., Amin, R., Ali, A., Hikal, A., Elmorsy, E., Mustari, A., Atwa, A., Taher, E., Mohammed, D., Abdal Dayem, A., Amer, S., Abdeen, A. (2025). 'Molecular Mechanisms of Physiological Aging: Hallmarks, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways to Healthy Longevity', EKB Journal Management System, 48(2), pp. 1-10. doi: 10.21608/bvmj.2025.365866.1936
Shannour, N., Elshawarby, R., Abdelaleem, N., Amin, R., Ali, A., Hikal, A., Elmorsy, E., Mustari, A., Atwa, A., Taher, E., Mohammed, D., Abdal Dayem, A., Amer, S., Abdeen, A. Molecular Mechanisms of Physiological Aging: Hallmarks, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways to Healthy Longevity. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 48(2): 1-10. doi: 10.21608/bvmj.2025.365866.1936

Molecular Mechanisms of Physiological Aging: Hallmarks, Environmental Impacts, and Pathways to Healthy Longevity

Benha Veterinary Medical Journal
Volume 48, Issue 2, July 2025, Page 1-10  XML PDF (586.05 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/bvmj.2025.365866.1936
View on SCiNiTO View on SCiNiTO
Authors
Naiera Shannour email 1; Ragab Elshawarby1; Nabila Abdelaleem1; Radwa Amin2; Alzahraa Ali3; Ahmed Hikal4; Ekramy Elmorsy5; Afrina Mustari6; Ahmed Atwa7; Ehab Taher8; Dania Mohammed9; Ahmed Abdal Dayem10; Saad Amer11; Ahmed Abdeenorcid 12
1Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh 13736, Egypt
21- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh 13736, Egypt 2- Menoufia University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shibeen Elkom, Egypt
3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
4Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
5Center for Health Research, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi Arabia
6Department of Physiology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
7Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ayen Iraqi University, AUIQ, An Nasiriyah, Iraq
8Department of Basic and Clinical Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Zarqa University, Zarqa 13110, Jordan
9Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dubai Medical College for Girls, Dubai Medical University, Dubai 19099, United Arab Emirates
10Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, School of Advanced Biotechnology, Molecular & Cellular Reprogramming Center, Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, and Institute of Health, Aging & Society, Konkuk
11Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Royal Derby Hospital Centre, University of Nottingham, Derby DE22 3DT, UK
12forensic medicine and toxicology,faculty of veterinary medicine, benha university
Abstract
Aging is a multifaceted biological process shaped by intrinsic molecular mechanisms and extrinsic environmental factors, culminating in systemic functional decline and heightened vulnerability to age-related diseases. This review explores the hallmarks of physiological aging, including genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, and gut dysbiosis. These interconnected pathways drive the gradual deterioration of cellular and tissue function, underpinning both natural aging and the onset of pathologies such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Environmental toxins including mycotoxins, heavy metals, chemical clastogens, and pollutants exacerbate aging by inducing oxidative stress, disrupting DNA repair, and altering epigenetic regulation, thereby accelerating cellular damage and systemic dysfunction. We highlight the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in senescence, the dual nature of autophagy in proteostasis, and the inflammatory cascade triggered by senescent cells, which perpetuates tissue degeneration. Furthermore, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota emerges as a critical modulator of aging, linking microbial imbalance to metabolic and immune dysregulation. By synthesizing current insights into these mechanisms, this review underscores the importance of targeting aging hallmarks to develop interventions that promote healthy longevity. Strategies such as dietary modulation, proteasome activation, and probiotic therapies demonstrate potential in mitigating age-related decline. Understanding the interplay between molecular pathways and environmental stressors offers a roadmap for innovative therapies aimed at decelerating aging processes, enhancing healthspan, and reducing the burden of age-associated diseases. This holistic perspective bridges fundamental aging biology with translational applications, emphasizing the urgency of interdisciplinary approaches to address the challenges of global population aging.
Keywords
genomic instability; telomere attrition; inflammaging; proteostasis; gut dysbiosis
Statistics
Article View: 122
PDF Download: 104