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Research Agenda for Cardiovascular Aging: Humans to Molecules
1Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging; and the Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, MD.
Cardiovascular changes during aging increase risks for heart failure and stroke. These age-associated changes should be targeted for prevention, not considered normal.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Gerontology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Aging is associated with cardiovascular changes that interact with disease mechanisms.
- These interactions lower the threshold for symptoms and worsen prognosis of cardiovascular diseases in older adults.
- Age-associated cardiovascular changes in healthy individuals should be viewed as risk factors, not normal aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reframe age-associated cardiovascular changes as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
- To advocate for preventive interventions targeting "normal cardiovascular aging."
- To provide research directions for understanding age-associated cardiovascular changes.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing research on cardiovascular aging and disease.
- Analysis of the interplay between healthy aging processes and cardiovascular disease pathophysiology.
- Conceptual framework development for understanding cardiovascular aging as a risk factor.
Main Results:
- Clinical manifestations of cardiovascular diseases are altered in older individuals due to interactions between aging and disease processes.
- Older individuals exhibit a lower threshold for symptoms, greater disease severity, and poorer prognosis compared to younger individuals.
- Age-associated cardiovascular changes are identified as critical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular changes during aging should not be considered normal but as specific risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
- Preventive strategies should target "normal cardiovascular aging" to mitigate risks of heart failure and stroke.
- Further research is needed to understand cardiovascular aging from molecular to human levels for effective prevention.
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