Differences in Cardiovascular Aging in Men and Women
Alice E Kane1, Susan E Howlett2,3
1Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Aging is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease due to age-dependent changes in the heart and blood vessels. These maladaptive changes, differing between sexes and exacerbated by frailty, increase disease susceptibility in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Gerontology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) prevalence significantly increases with age in both sexes.
- Advanced age is recognized as a major independent risk factor for CVD, beyond cumulative exposure to other risks.
- Age-related cellular, structural, and functional changes occur in the heart and vasculature, even in the absence of clinical CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the independent role of aging as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- To investigate the age-dependent remodeling of the heart and blood vessels.
- To examine sex-specific differences and the impact of frailty on age-related cardiovascular changes.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies on older humans and animal models of aging.
- Analysis of age-dependent cellular, structural, and functional changes in cardiovascular systems.
- Examination of sex-based variations and frailty-related effects on cardiovascular aging.
Main Results:
- Aging induces maladaptive remodeling in the heart and blood vessels.
- Accumulation of cellular and subcellular deficits with age increases cardiovascular disease susceptibility.
- Age-related cardiovascular changes exhibit sex-specific patterns and are more pronounced in frail individuals.
Conclusions:
- Age itself is a critical determinant of cardiovascular disease risk.
- Understanding sex-specific and frailty-related cardiovascular aging is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Age-related cardiovascular deficits contribute to differential disease susceptibility in aging men and women, particularly the frail.
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