Aging, a universal biological process, intersects with human health across physiological systems, driving the pathogenesis of diverse diseases. This virtual issue brings together cutting-edge research that deciphers the molecular and cellular underpinnings of this interplay, offering insights into both fundamental mechanisms and translational potential.​Articles herein explore how immune aging reshapes susceptibility to infectious diseases, and dissect the paradoxical roles of senescence in liver pathology and renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. They unravel how the aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediates environmental influences on aging trajectories in elderly asthmatics, and probe the mechanistic links between aging and perioperative cerebral homeostasis.​Further contributions dissect the cellular and molecular hallmarks of hematopoietic aging, map the connections between obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and vascular aging, and evaluate the transformative promise of stem cell-based anti-aging strategies. Collectively, these studies illuminate aging as a systemic regulator of health, bridging bench and bedside to inform novel therapeutic approaches.