Aging and Arterial Stiffness

Arterial walls stiffen with age. The most consistent and well-reported changes are luminal enlargement with wall thickening and a reduction of elastic properties at the level of large elastic arteries. Longstanding arterial pulsation in the central artery causes elastin fiber fatigue and fracture. I...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Circulation Journal 2010, Vol.74(11), pp.2257-2262
Main Authors: Lee, Hae-Young, Oh, Byung-Hee
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Aging
Aging - pathology
Animals
Arteries - pathology
Arteries - physiopathology
Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology
Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology
Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology
Cardiovascular Diseases - therapy
Elasticity
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hypertension
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Stiffness
Vasculature
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Summary:Arterial walls stiffen with age. The most consistent and well-reported changes are luminal enlargement with wall thickening and a reduction of elastic properties at the level of large elastic arteries. Longstanding arterial pulsation in the central artery causes elastin fiber fatigue and fracture. Increased vascular calcification and endothelial dysfunction are also characteristic of arterial aging. These changes lead to increased pulse wave velocity, especially along central elastic arteries, and increases in systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure. Vascualar aging is accelerated by coexsiting cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Vascular aging is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, from atherosclerosis to target organ damage, including coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure. Various strategies, especially controlling hypertension, show benefit in preventing, delaying or attenuating vascular aging. (Circ J 2010; 74: 2257-2262)
ISSN:1346-9843
1347-4820
DOI:10.1253/circj.CJ-10-0910