The expansion of the aged population has become a major concern. Over the past 60 years, the proportion of people aged 60 and over in the global population increased only slightly, from 8% to 10%. However, in the next 40 years, this demographic is expected to surge to 22% of the total population, rising from 0.8 billion to 2 billion. As aging progresses, living organisms undergo a series of degenerative changes and become more sensitive to internal and external stimuli. This results in increased oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular apoptosis, and damage to cellular structures and functions. Consequently, as age advances, there is a greater risk of developing various diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, sarcopenia, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and cancer, along with a heightened vulnerability to death.
One of the primary challenges faced by the aging population is minimizing the health impacts of aging and preventing the onset and progression of age-related diseases. A substantial body of literature supports that bioactive compounds from traditional Chinese medicine and natural products may offer effective and safe strategies to protect against aging and related conditions.
Polyphenols are bioactive compounds widely found in plant-based foods and are known for their health-promoting effects. These include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory actions, and modulation of gut microbiota. Resveratrol, a natural phenolic compound present in grapes, peanuts, blueberries, and red wine, has demonstrated numerous bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, blood pressure-lowering, and lipid-lowering effects. It has also shown promise in the prevention and management of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and obesity.
Furthermore, many studies have emphasized resveratrol’s potential in anti-aging therapies by reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammation, enhancing mitochondrial function, and regulating apoptosis. Its interaction with gut microbiota has also garnered significant interest in recent years for its role in promoting health.
This review summarizes the effects of resveratrol on aging, longevity, and several age-related diseases—including neurodegenerative conditions, sarcopenia, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers—with a particular focus on the mechanisms underlying its anti-aging actions.