Decrease of coherence between the respiration and parasympathetic control of the heart rate with aging

Area of Science:

• Human physiology
• Autonomic nervous system
• Cardiorespiratory coupling

Background:

• Understanding the coordinated behavior of human bodily systems is crucial for physiological insights.
• The interplay between heart rate and respiration, particularly their coordinated dynamics, is of significant scientific interest.
• Autonomic control of heart rate is a key regulator of cardiovascular function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the coherence between respiration and autonomic heart rate control across different age groups.
• To examine how this coherence changes in various physiological states: awake, REM sleep, and deep sleep.
• To explore the impact of aging on cardiorespiratory coupling.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of coherence between respiratory patterns and heart rate variability in different age cohorts.
• Data collection across three distinct states: wakefulness, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM (deep) sleep.
• Comparative analysis of coherence dynamics across age groups and sleep stages.

Main Results:

• A consistent, monotonic decrease in cardiorespiratory coherence was observed with advancing age.
• Age-related alterations in the autonomic control of circulation are suggested as the underlying cause.
• The dynamics of coherence during the transition from wakefulness to sleep were qualitatively similar across all age groups studied.

Conclusions:

• Aging is associated with reduced cardiorespiratory coherence, likely due to changes in autonomic regulation.
• The findings highlight age-dependent modifications in the synchronization between breathing and heart rate control.
• Sleep transitions reveal consistent patterns of cardiorespiratory coupling dynamics irrespective of age.