Blood rheology and aging.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Blood flow properties (rheology) are crucial for tissue perfusion and are affected by aging.
• Elderly individuals often exhibit impaired blood fluidity, characterized by increased viscosity and red blood cell (RBC) aggregation.
• Factors like elevated fibrinogen and oxidative stress contribute to these age-related hemorheological changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of aging on blood rheology.
• To explore the influence of inflammation, oxidative stress, and RBC properties on blood fluidity in the elderly.
• To discuss the potential benefits of physical activity on hemorheological parameters in older adults.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on blood rheology in aging.
• Analysis of factors affecting blood viscosity, RBC deformability, and aggregation.
• Examination of evidence regarding physical activity's effects on hemorheology.

Main Results:

• Aging is associated with increased plasma and whole blood viscosity.
• Impaired red blood cell (RBC) deformability and enhanced RBC aggregation are common in older individuals.
• Increased plasma fibrinogen concentration and oxidant stress contribute to altered blood fluidity in the elderly.

Conclusions:

• Blood rheology significantly changes with advanced age, impacting tissue perfusion.
• While physical activity shows promise for improving hemorheology in the elderly, further research is needed.
• Well-designed observational and mechanistic studies are required to confirm the specific effects of exercise on hemorheological parameters in healthy older adults.