Interaction Between Aging and Periodontitis

As the global population ages, understanding the interplay between aging and chronic inflammatory conditions like periodontitis has become a critical research priority. Periodontitis, a leading cause of tooth loss, exhibits bidirectional associations with systemic aging processes and age-related diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions). However, the molecular mechanisms linking immune senescence, microbial dysbiosis, and inflammatory pathways remain poorly defined, while clinical strategies for managing aging-related periodontal decline require further exploration.

This Research Topic invites multidisciplinary research to elucidate the interaction between aging and periodontitis, with emphasis on:
- Mechanistic Insights: Roles of cellular senescence, epigenetic regulation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and microbiome-host dynamics in periodontitis progression and systemic aging.
- Clinical/Epidemiological Perspectives: Age-specific prevalence, prognostic disparities, comorbidities in geriatric populations, and the systemic impact of periodontal therapies on age-related diseases.
- Translational Innovations: Discovery of aging-related biomarkers, targeted therapies (e.g. senolytics, immunomodulators), and preventive interventions derived from shared molecular pathways.

We welcome submissions of all article types that integrate advanced methodologies such as multi-omics, animal models, or longitudinal cohort analyses. Submissions should address knowledge gaps in the crosstalk between oral and systemic aging, aiming to inform strategies for healthier aging. Contributions from cross-disciplinary teams are encouraged to foster novel insights into diagnostics, therapeutics, and population health.

By bridging molecular mechanisms to clinical outcomes, this Research Topic seeks to advance holistic approaches for mitigating aging-associated oral and systemic disease burdens.

Keywords: Immunosenescence, inflammatory microenvironment, geriatric comorbidities, autophagy, microbiome-host crosstalk

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.