N AT I O N A L I N S T I T U T E S O F H E A LT H
N AT I O N A L I N S T I T U T E O N A G I N G
U . S . D E PA RT M E N T O F H E A LT H A N D H U M A N S E R V I C E S
THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
“...the conduct and support of biomedical, social and behavioral research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the aging process and the diseases and other special problems and needs of the aged.”
RESEARCH ON AGING ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED IN 1990 BY P.L. 101-557
TABLE OF CONTENTS
33PrIefa
ntrce
oduction
3030 The Untapped P
The U
romise of
ntapped Promise of
the Aging
the Ag H
ing ear
H t
eart
44 A H
A ost
H
of
ost I
of nIte
n r
t c
e onnections
rconnections
33 Blood Vessels and Aging:
4 4 The I
T nt
he I r
nicat
tr e P
icat ump
e Pump
The Rest of the Journey
5 5 Anat
A omy of
natomy o the H
f
ear
the H t
eart ✦
34
In Search of a Connection
6 6 Age,
A C
ge, hange,
C
and A
hange,
daptation
and Adaptation
35
What Happens During
7 7 In the Beg
I
inning
n the Beginning
Atherosclerosis? ✦★
7 7 The N
T
ext St
he Ne
eps
xt Steps
36
Age and Arteries ✦
99The A
T
ging
he Ag
H
ing ear
H t
eart
38
Inside Every Artery...
38
...Time Takes its Toll
1010 The Effects of N
The Effects of or
N mal
or
Ag
mal ing
Aging
39
The Nitty Gritty of High Blood
1010 Stru
St c
r t
uur
ct al Changes
ural Changes
Pressure
1111 Hear
H t Dynamics
eart Dynamics ✦
40
Production of Nitric Oxide in Arteries ✦
1212 In a H
In
ear
a H t Beat
eart Beat ✦
41
Arteries: Young and Old ✦
1212 Hear
H t Filling
eart Filling
41
Stuck in the Middle with You
1414 Pumping A
P
t Rest
umping at Rest
42
From Balloon to Bicycle Tire
1415 Pumping Dur
The Heart: ing Ex
Yo
ercise
ung and Old ✦
43
Can Gene Therapy be Used
16
Pumping During Exercise
to Treat Heart Problems? ★
1818 When the B
Whe
rain T
n the Brain alks t
T
o the Hear
alks to the H
t
eart ✦★
44
New Blood Test May Help Doctors
Detect Emerging Heart Disease ★
21 C
C ellular Clues
ellular Clues
45
Keeping Your Arteries Healthy
22
The Marvelous Calcium Pump
47
Exercise: Your Heart’s Best Friend ★
23
How a Myocyte Contracts ✦
48
Metabolic Syndrome Accelerates
24
When a Good Pump Goes Bad
Aging of Arteries ✦★
25
Age Lengthens Action Potential
49
Healthy Foods, Healthy Arteries:
26
Free Radical Damage
Is There a Connection?
27
Nitric Oxide
27
Contractile Proteins ✦
53
What Lies Ahead
28
Opposing Pressures: Heart Cavity
54
Glossary
Pressure vs. Aortic Pressure ✦
58
Bibliography
28
Bigger Heart Cells...
29
...But Fewer of Them
64