到2030年，65岁及以上的人口将占全球人口的约20％。 心血管疾病仍然是全球死亡的首要原因，与年龄相关的内皮“功能障碍”是其中一个重要风险因素。作为一个独立的器官，血管内皮贯穿于哺乳动物体内，以配合代谢需求，协调全身各器官和组织（如大脑、心脏、肺、骨骼肌、肠道、肾脏、皮肤）的血流。而新的证据表明，血管老化及其共病（如神经退行性疾病、糖尿病、高血压、肾脏疾病、心力衰竭和癌症）在很大程度上是“通道病”。本文综述了血管离子通道的调节，这些通道支持了整个机体的血流控制，强调了不同重要器官系统上的功能特征和普遍结构。文中探讨了肌内皮偶联和局部与传导信号的调节，并提出了老化和慢性疾病发展的新视角。尽管我们意识到血管老化领域的知识空白，但文中还包括了一部分内容，涵盖了一般可行性、生物性别的作用以及其他的概念和实验考虑因素（如细胞退化和增殖，基因组分析）。最终目标是使读者了解血管功能衰退的主要点，并具备思考可能的机制和治疗策略，以维持器官灌注和全身健康的能力。

Individuals aged ≥65 years will comprise approximately 20% of the global population by 2030. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the world with age-related endothelial "dysfunction" as a key risk factor. As an organ in and of itself, vascular endothelium courses throughout the mammalian body to coordinate blood flow to all other organs and tissues (e.g., brain, heart, lung, skeletal muscle, gut, kidney, skin) in accord with metabolic demand. In turn, emerging evidence demonstrates that vascular aging and its co-morbidities (e.g., neurodegeneration, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, heart failure, and cancer) are "channelopathies" in large part. With an emphasis on distinct functional traits and common arrangements across major organs systems, the present literature review encompasses regulation of vascular ion channels that underlie blood flow control throughout the body. Regulation of myoendothelial coupling and local versus conducted signaling are discussed with new perspectives for aging and the development of chronic diseases. While equipped with an awareness of knowledge gaps in the vascular aging field, a section has been included to encompass general feasibility, role of biological sex, and additional conceptual and experimental considerations (e.g., cell regression and proliferation, gene profile analyses). The ultimate goal is for the reader to see and understand major points of deterioration in vascular function while gaining the ability to think of potential mechanistic and therapeutic strategies to sustain organ perfusion and whole-body health with aging.