Altered Mechanisms of Thermoregulatory Vasoconstriction in Aged Human Skin

In Brief Human exposure to cold stimulates cutaneous vasoconstriction by activating both sympathetic reflex and locally mediated pathways. Older humans are vulnerable to hypothermia because primary aging impairs thermoregulatory cutaneous vasoconstriction. This article highlights recent findings discussing how age-related decrements in sympathetic neurotransmission contribute directly to thermoregulatory impairment, whereas changes in local cold-induced intracellular signaling suggest a more generalized age-associated vascular dysfunction. Age-related changes in the mechanisms of thermoregulatory cutaneous vasoconstriction suggest both impaired sympathetic neurotransmission and microvascular (particularly endothelial) dysfunction.