Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues
08:41

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues

Published on: June 3, 2019

10.4K

Neurovascular interactions in the ageing heart

Julian U G Wagner1,2,3, Stefanie Dimmeler4,5,6

  • 1Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Nature Reviews. Cardiology
|February 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

As people live longer, extending healthspan is crucial. This review explores how ageing affects the heart

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Aging Research
  • Neurovascular Biology
  • Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

Background:

  • Increasing global life expectancy necessitates extending healthspan and preventing age-related diseases.
  • Cardiovascular disease, driven by aging, is a leading cause of mortality, causing vascular dysfunction and cardiac decline.
  • Aging impacts the neurovascular unit, affecting cardiac autonomic regulation and increasing risks for arrhythmias and heart failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of neurovascular aging on cardiac dysfunction.
  • To explore therapeutic strategies targeting the cardiac neurovascular unit for cardiovascular aging.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review on neurovascular aging and cardiac function.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the neurovascular unit's role in cardiovascular aging.
  • Examination of therapeutic targets within the cardiac neurovascular unit.

Main Results:

  • Aging significantly alters the structure and function of the cardiac neurovascular unit.
  • Impaired neurovascular signaling contributes to autonomic dysfunction and increased susceptibility to heart failure.
  • The cardiac neurovascular unit is a critical determinant of cardiovascular resilience during aging.

Conclusions:

  • Neurovascular aging is a key driver of cardiac dysfunction and age-related cardiovascular diseases.
  • Targeting the cardiac neurovascular unit offers promising therapeutic avenues to mitigate cardiovascular aging.
  • Promoting neurovascular health may enhance resilience in aging populations.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

16.8K
Isolation and Functional Analysis of Arteriolar Endothelium of Mouse Brain Parenchyma06:40

Isolation and Functional Analysis of Arteriolar Endothelium of Mouse Brain Parenchyma

Published on: March 11, 2022

4.3K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
253
The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
3.9K
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
4.0K
Aging01:26

Aging

Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
879
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution01:00

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
272
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
1.0K