MoCA 2022 - Extending the Health Span: Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Aging

Aging is a major risk factor for diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, or stroke. Cardiovascular diseases have an alarming prevalence and research into their causes is urgently needed. Conversely, aging of the vasculature has a strong impact on whole-organism aging.

Recent evidence strongly suggests that an age-related decrease of vascular endothelial growth factor C (Vegfc) is causative to aging mice. In fact, activating vascular levels of Vegfc extends lifespan. Telomere shortening, genomic instability, epigenetic modifications, mitochondrial dysfunction, or loss of proteostasis also contribute to pathomechanisms. However, how the underlying genetic alterations condition the development of cardiovascular disease has remained largely unexplored.

This meeting at the University of Potsdam close to Berlin will bring together international leading experts, junior scientists and interested translational researchers that are dedicated to a better understanding of molecular and cellular processes during aging of the cardiovascular system.