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Physiological Changes Due to Age

Implications for Cardiovascular Drug Therapy

  • Review Article
  • Physiological Aspects of Aging
  • Published:
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Summary

Cardiovascular disease is the single largest cause of death in the elderly. Many of the published studies concerning the physiology and pharmacology of the aging cardiovascular system are seriously flawed. Problems include failure to measure the drug bioavailability and the selection of subjects with overt or subclinical disease.

With exercise, the rise in heart rate is inversely proportional to age and maximum heart rate is reduced. Baroreceptor reflex activity appears to decline with age. Cardiac output is maintained in the elderly, with a slower heart rate and a greater stroke volume than in the young.

Plasma noradrenaline (norepinephrine) levels increase in the elderly but there is no change in the sensitivity of the vasoconstrictor α1-adrenoceptor. There is evidence for a decline in the activity of the vasodilator β 2-adrenoceptor with age.

It is difficult to make general rules about the effect of aging on the disposition and elimination of drugs. Each drug must be tested separately.

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  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland

    I. Stolarek, P. J. W. Scott &  F. I. Caird

  2. University Department of Geriatric Medicine, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, G51 4TF, Scotland

    I. Stolarek, P. J. W. Scott &  F. I. Caird

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Stolarek, I., Scott, P.J.W. & Caird, F.I. Physiological Changes Due to Age. Drugs & Aging 1, 467–476 (1991). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-199101060-00006

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