Interactions Between Innervation, Vascular Aging, and Loss of Capillary Density in the Heart – Fight Aging!

The aging process affects the functioning of blood vessels, leading to a decrease in angiogenesis and capillary density in tissues. This results in reduced nutrient and oxygen supply to energy-demanding tissues, such as muscles and the brain, as well as changes in blood flow dynamics. Additionally, aging leads to a loss of peripheral nervous system connections, which interacts with the decline in capillary density. Researchers have found that endothelial cell dysfunction plays a key role in the loss of neuronal axons in the heart, leading to an increased risk of arrhythmias. This discovery provides a potential target for drug development to address degenerative aging processes.