Cardiac Energetics and Function in Normal Human Ageing
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2015-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Normal aging is characterized by altered cardiovascular function. Our preliminary data with
MR imaging and spectroscopy in normal subjects without cardiovascular disease or hypertension
show that age-related cardiac dysfunction is characterized initially by impaired relaxation
of the heart (40 - 60 years), and then at > 60 years altered contraction and impaired
myocardial energetics. For the first time, the investigators will test whether the functional
and energetic effects of normal aging can be reversed by acutely reducing stiffness of
peripheral blood vessels using an ACE inhibitor. This will potentially have important
insights into how normal aging affects the heart, and how potential treatments could be used
to attenuate this process.