An Insight into Platelets at Older Age: Cellular and Clinical Perspectives

Higher access to medical care, advanced diagnostic tools, and overall public health improvements have favored increased humans lifespan. With a growing proportion of older adults, the associated costs to care for ageing-associated conditions will continue to grow. This chapter highlights recent cellular and clinical evidence of platelets at an older age, from the hyperreactive phenotype associated with thrombosis to the well-known hallmarks of ageing identifiable in platelets and their potential functional implications on platelets at an older age. Therefore, it is imperative to understand platelets' molecular and cellular mechanisms during ageing in health and disease. New knowledge will favor the development of new ways to prevent some of the age-associated complications where platelets are key players.