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Hemodynamic sequelae of age-related increases in arterial stiffness in healthy women
H Tanaka1, F A Dinenno, B E Hunt
1Center for Physical Activity, Disease Prevention, and Aging, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, 80309-0354, USA. tanakah@colorado.edu
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Arterial stiffness increases cardiovascular disease risk with age. This study links stiffening arteries to higher blood pressure via elevated systemic vascular resistance, which decreases with blood volume and cardiac output.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Aging research
- Vascular biology
Background:
- Arterial stiffening is a hallmark of aging.
- Increased arterial stiffness is linked to higher cardiovascular disease incidence.
- The precise mechanisms connecting arterial stiffness to blood pressure changes with age require elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological link between age-related arterial stiffness and elevated blood pressure.
- To determine the relationship between arterial stiffness, systemic vascular resistance, and hemodynamic parameters in aging.
Main Methods:
- The study examined the physiological connections between arterial stiffness, blood pressure, and cardiac function in an aging cohort.
- Analysis focused on systemic vascular resistance, blood volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output in relation to arterial stiffness.
Main Results:
- Elevated systemic vascular resistance was identified as the primary physiological link between age-related arterial stiffness and increased blood pressure.
- Decreased blood volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output were found to be inversely correlated with increased arterial stiffness and systemic vascular resistance in aging.
Conclusions:
- Age-related arterial stiffening contributes to hypertension primarily through increased systemic vascular resistance.
- Reduced cardiac output and blood volume may play a role in the progression of arterial stiffness and hypertension with aging.
Abstract:
Stiffening of central arteries is believed to contribute to the increase in the incidence of cardiovascular disease with age, presumably through its adverse influence on arterial blood pressure. We found that (1) the physiologic link between age-related increases in arterial stiffness and blood pressure appears to be elevated systemic vascular resistance, and (2) increased arterial stiffness and systemic vascular resistance with age were inversely related to blood volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output.