Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Comprehensive Analysis of Procoagulant Platelets Exhibiting Features of Necrosis, Apoptosis and Platelet Activation
04:37

Comprehensive Analysis of Procoagulant Platelets Exhibiting Features of Necrosis, Apoptosis and Platelet Activation

Published on: May 23, 2025

Platelet activation is caused not by aging but by atherosclerosis

Hitoshi Kurabayashi1, Kazuo Kubota, Akiko Hishinuma

  • 1Department of Medicine, Kusatsu Branch Hospital, Gunma University Hospital, 627-3 Kusatsu, Gunma 377-1711, Japan. hkuraba@saitama-med.ac.jp

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
|November 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Platelet activation is linked to atherosclerosis, not aging itself. Studies show elderly individuals with atherosclerosis exhibit increased platelet pseudopods and decreased peroxidase, unlike healthy young or non-atherosclerotic elderly subjects.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Hematology
  • Cardiovascular Science

Background:

  • Platelet activation is known to increase with age.
  • It remains debated whether this is due to aging or associated atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between platelet activation, aging, and atherosclerosis.
  • To differentiate the effects of aging from those of atherosclerosis on platelet function.

Main Methods:

  • Examined platelet ultrastructure in young, non-atherosclerotic elderly, and atherosclerotic elderly subjects.
  • Assessed platelet shape changes using transmission electron microscopy.
  • Quantified peroxidase and fibrinogen content via cytochemical staining and immunogold marking.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in platelet shape, peroxidase, or fibrinogen were found between young and non-atherosclerotic elderly subjects.
  • Elderly subjects with atherosclerosis showed increased pseudopod formation and decreased peroxidase content.
  • These findings suggest atherosclerosis, not aging, influences platelet activation.

Conclusions:

  • Platelet activation is primarily associated with atherosclerosis rather than the aging process itself.
  • Distinguishing the independent effects of aging and atherosclerosis on platelets remains challenging.

More Related Videos

Alternative Methods for the Detection of Superoxide Anion Generation in Platelets06:35

Alternative Methods for the Detection of Superoxide Anion Generation in Platelets

Published on: March 29, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction01:30

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...
Formation of the Platelet Plug01:22

Formation of the Platelet Plug

The platelet phase, the second stage of hemostasis, commences around 15-20 seconds after an injury. It follows and overlaps with the vascular phase, during which blood vessels constrict to minimize blood loss.
As the injured blood vessel contracts, endothelial cells undergo contraction, revealing collagen fibers in the basement membrane and underlying connective tissue. Furthermore, the plasma membrane of endothelial cells becomes adhesive, preparing the site for platelet adhesion. Platelets...
Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) predominantly results from atherosclerosis, which involves the accumulation of fatty deposits, or plaques, within the walls of arteries. This causes them to narrow and harden, significantly reducing blood flow. PAD predominantly affects the legs, particularly the arteries supplying the thighs and calves. In rare cases, it may involve other arteries, including those in the arms.Etiology of PAD:The principal cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, which results from fatty...
Inflammation01:38

Inflammation

Overview
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors01:20

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...