Role of aging‑related cytokines in neurodegenerative disease (Review)

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are neurological disorders marked by neuronal damage and functional decline, notably affecting human quality of life and imposing substantial burdens on healthcare systems. The increasing prevalence of NDs is associated with intensification of population aging worldwide. Consequently, there is need to investigate effective prevention and treatment strategies. Aging is a risk factor for NDs. Throughout the aging process, alterations in the expression of specific cytokines occur, such as IL‑6 and tumor necrosis factor‑α, precipitating a cascade of chronic inflammatory responses. The present study provides a comprehensive review of the alterations in cytokines associated with aging in NDs and the chronic inflammatory responses they elicit. Furthermore, it explores the mechanisms by which these cytokines contribute to neuroinflammation, neuronal damage and cell death, thereby proposing a novel research direction for the treatment of NDs through cytokine regulation.