The role of mitochondria and microRNAs in radiation-induced aging

Population aging is accelerating worldwide, straining the global economy and health services. Cellular senescence is a significant contributor to various age-related neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Some external factors, such as exposure to ionizing radiation, can accelerate aging. In recent years, it has become known that the post-transcriptional control system of gene expression by short single-stranded RNA molecules, called microRNAs, is of great importance in the regulation of normal physiological processes and in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including age-related diseases. This article reviews the biological effects of radiation, the effects of radiation on aging in various cell types, and the relevant molecular mechanisms of microRNAs.