Abstract
In no organ system are the molecular and physiologic changes more crucial to the duration and quality of life than in the cardiovascular system. The life-sustaining role of the heart and the blood vessels may be attenuated and eventually extinguished by the cumulative effects of aging on cardiac function and tissue perfusion. The impact of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality on public health and health care economics will grow with the aging of the population in the new millenium. Fortunately, advances in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and molecular biology are keeping pace with the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in the elderly. The coupling of molecular changes, drug receptor function and physiologic responses is increasingly well understood in a variety of age-related cardiovascular disease states. However, the challenge of maintaining and sustaining cardiovascular health beyond the eighth decade of life is considerable. Unlocking the secrets of cardiovascular apoptosis offers practitioners and patients alike a potential for a healthier future.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 669-679 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Facts, Research and Intervention in Geriatrics |
| Volume | 2000 |
| Issue number | PART 2 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
