Determinants of cardiovascular performance: modification due to aging.

With advancing age the ability of the cardiovascular system to respond to stress declines. The present discussion examines several mechanisms at both the organismal and cellular level that are known to determine cardiovascular performance, and analyses the current state of knowledge regarding the effect of aging on these processes. The conclusion reached is that aging does not result in a generalized decline in all parameters that regulate cardiovascular function, but rather a few specific functional deficits can be identified. Notably, these include a diminished responsiveness to catecholamines and altered vascular loading of the myocardium during high work load states.