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Related Experiment Video

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Implantation of Combined Telemetric ECG and Blood Pressure Transmitters to Determine Spontaneous Baroreflex Sensitivity in Conscious Mice

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Effect of aging on baroreflex function in humans.

Kevin D Monahan¹

¹Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Div. of Cardiology H047, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033-2390, USA. kmonahan@psu.edu

American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology

|April 20, 2007

Summary

Aging impairs the baroreflex, a key system for blood pressure regulation. Specifically, cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity decreases, leading to poorer blood pressure control and increased health risks.

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Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Physiology
Neuroscience
Gerontology

Background:

Arterial blood pressure (BP) regulation involves complex neural, humoral, and local factors.
The baroreflex is a primary neural mechanism for acute BP homeostasis, modulating heart rate and vascular resistance.
Aging significantly impacts physiological systems, including those controlling BP.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the effects of aging on the parasympathetic and sympathetic components of the baroreflex.
To elucidate the mechanisms contributing to age-related changes in baroreflex sensitivity.
To discuss the consequences of impaired baroreflex function in older adults.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on baroreflex function and aging.
Analysis of age-related changes in cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity.
Examination of the sympathetic arm of the baroreflex in aging.
Comparison of pressor response potentiation in young versus older adults.

Main Results:

Aging is associated with decreased cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity, characterized by blunted R-R interval changes in response to BP variations.
Mechanisms include increased oxidative stress, vascular stiffening, and reduced cardiac cholinergic responsiveness.
Baroreflex control of sympathetic outflow remains largely unimpaired with age.
Older adults exhibit a reduced ability to buffer BP changes compared to younger adults.

Conclusions:

Cardiovagal baroreflex impairment with age contributes to increased BP variability and reduced capacity to handle acute BP challenges.
These changes may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, including sudden cardiac death.
While sympathetic baroreflex control is preserved, overall baroreflex buffering capacity is diminished in older individuals.