Volume 47, Issue 4 December 2023 JVU 474-184 | The Influence of Aging – Related Decrease in Endothelial Function on the Stiffness of Peripheral Conducting Arteries-474-184

474-184

Pdf Summary

This study investigates the relationship between aging-related decrease in endothelial function and the stiffness of peripheral arteries. The researchers conducted a single-center, prospective study on 30 healthy participants of both sexes and different ages. They evaluated the capacity of the endothelium for endothelium-dependent vasodilatation by performing the reactive hyperemia test on the brachial artery, and assessed the stiffness of the common carotid artery by calculating the stiffness index. <br /><br />The results showed that the functional capacity of the endothelium for endothelium-dependent vasodilatation declines with aging, starting in men in their 20s and more significantly in women after the age of 50. Additionally, a significant increase in arterial stiffness was observed among both male and female participants with aging. The researchers concluded that there is a decrease in the capacity of peripheral arteries for endothelium-dependent vasodilatation that correlates with an increase in arterial stiffness. <br /><br />These findings have implications for cardiovascular disease prevention as arterial stiffening is a known risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. Monitoring endothelial function and arterial stiffness could help identify individuals at risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Further research in larger populations is needed to confirm these findings and explore potential interventions to mitigate age-related declines in endothelial function and arterial stiffness.

Keywords

aging-related decrease

endothelial function

stiffness of peripheral arteries

single-center study

prospective study

healthy participants

endothelium-dependent vasodilatation

arterial stiffness

coronary artery disease prevention

risk factor