Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gasotransmitter molecule, has attracted attention as an endogenous signaling molecule because of its various pathological and physiological effects, including pathologies related to aging. In this review, we aimed to discuss the morphological changes in each vessel following aging, and to evaluate the possible role of H2S in the cerebrovascular alteration, such as arterial stiffness, microvessel loss, and blood-brain barrier disruption, with advancing age. Additionally, the review outlines the therapeutic efficacy of the H2S-releasing compounds on the cerebrovasculature. In the central nervous system, cerebrovascular aging can lead to the loss of blood-brain integrity, which causes cognitive impairment. The findings discussed in this review strongly support the notion that H2S has a potential therapeutic role in cerebrovascular alteration in aging.
Keywords: Aging; Blood–brain barrier; Central nervous system; Hydrogen sulfide.