Longitudinal follow-up over a mean of 10 months demonstrated an age-related increase in systolic blood-pressure reactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal to acute stress.
Cohort (n=108)
Does aging lead to longitudinal changes in cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress in adults?
Longitudinal follow-up demonstrates that aging is associated with increased systolic blood pressure reactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal in response to acute stress, potentially contributing to age-related cardiovascular risk.
Although age differences in cardiovascular function are well documented, little research has provided longitudinal evidence for age-related changes in cardiovascular reactivity to stress. In this study, the authors report such data from a follow-up of their prior work (B. N. Uchino, D. Uno, J. Holt-Lunstad, J. B. Flinders, 1999) with participants between the ages of 30 to 70 (n 108, mean follow-up 10 months, range 7 to 16 months). Results revealed longitudinal evidence for an age-related increase in systolic blood-pressure reactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal to acute stress. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of the increased cardiovascular disease risk with age, as well as the links between aging, emotions, and physiology. Age differences in cardiovascular function are well documented and may confer increased vulnerability to physical health problems
Uchino et al. (Sat,) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular reactivity to stress (n=108). Aging (longitudinal follow-up) vs. Baseline was evaluated on Systolic blood-pressure reactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal to acute stress. Longitudinal follow-up over a mean of 10 months demonstrated an age-related increase in systolic blood-pressure reactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal to acute stress.