Age and vascular aging: an unexplored frontier

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Vascular Biology
• Preventive Cardiology

Background:

• Vascular age reflects multifactorial arterial wall changes, with arterial stiffness being a primary indicator.
• Increased arterial stiffness elevates arterial pressure and pulsatile flow, impacting organ perfusion.
• Vascular age is an emerging concept in cardiovascular risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define vascular age, its pathophysiology, and measurement methods.
• To explore clinical signs, symptoms, and treatment strategies for vascular aging.
• To review the significance of vascular phenotypes like early vascular aging and SUPERNOVA.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on vascular age and arterial stiffness.
• Discussion of pulse wave velocity as the approved method for vascular age measurement.
• Analysis of established and emerging vascular phenotypes.

Main Results:

• Pulse wave velocity is a validated predictor of cardiovascular events.
• Identification of extreme vascular aging phenotypes (early vascular aging, SUPERNOVA).
• Lifestyle and pharmacological interventions can improve vascular health by reducing arterial stiffness.

Conclusions:

• Vascular age assessment, particularly through pulse wave velocity, offers valuable cardiovascular risk stratification.
• Understanding vascular phenotypes provides new avenues for physiological study and targeted interventions.
• Management strategies focusing on reducing arterial stiffness are essential for improving vascular health.