AUTHOR=Vigorito Carlo , Giallauria Francesco 

TITLE=Effects of exercise on cardiovascular performance in the elderly

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=Volume 5 - 2014

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2014.00051

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2014.00051

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=Progressive Aging induces several structural and functional alterations in the cardiovascular system, among whom particularly important are a reduced number of myocardial cell and of increased interstitial collagen fibers, which result in impaired LV diastolic function.  Even in the absence of cardiovascular disease, aging is  strongly associated to  a age-related reduced maximal aerobic capacity. This is due to a variety of physiological changes both at central and at peripheral level; among central factors, a reduced maximal heart rate (HR) response to exercise due to beta1 receptors down-regulation plays a major role; among peripheral factors, progressive aging is  associated to  peripheral muscle cell biochemical and functional changes including reduction of skeletal muscle cells,  decrease of Myosin Heavy Chain (MHC) I and  IIa muscle fibers and impaired muscle oxidative capacity