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Cardiolocomotor coupling in young and elderly people
Vera Novak1, Kun Hu, Mitul Vyas
1Division of Gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. vnovak@bidmc.harvard.edu
Summary
Healthy aging enhances cardiac-locomotor coupling, synchronizing cardiovascular responses with walking. This coupling may optimize blood pressure regulation during gait in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Gerontology
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Walking integrates locomotor, cardiovascular, and autonomic systems.
- Aging impacts these systems, potentially altering their regulatory interactions.
- Understanding age-related changes in cardiolocomotor coupling is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of healthy aging on cardiac-locomotor coupling.
- To compare cardiolocomotor coupling between young and elderly individuals during walking.
- To explore the relationship between gait parameters and cardiovascular responses in aging.
Main Methods:
- Treadmill walking at incremental speeds in healthy young and elderly participants.
- Continuous measurement of interbeat (R-R) intervals, step intervals, and maximum foot pressure (MFP).
- Monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (BFV).
Main Results:
- Both groups showed decreased R-R and step intervals with increased speed.
- Elderly participants exhibited coupled R-R and step intervals (R(2) = 0.84, p <.0001).
- In the elderly, MFP correlated with systolic BP (R(2) = 0.51, p <.02), unlike in the young.
Conclusions:
- Cardiolocomotor coupling becomes apparent with aging, potentially optimizing cardiovascular adjustments during walking.
- Gait-generated forces in the elderly may influence arterial pressure, synchronizing cardiovascular and locomotor networks.
- This study highlights a novel mechanism for cardiovascular regulation during gait in older adults.
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