title: Aging is a primary risk factor for cardiac arrhythmias: disruption of intracellular Ca2+ regulation as a key suspect.
abstract: Aging is an inevitable time-dependent progression associated with a functional decline of the cardiovascular system even in 'healthy' individuals. Age positively correlates with an increasing risk of cardiac problems including arrhythmias. Not only the prevalence but also the severity of arrhythmias escalates with age. The reasons for this are multifactorial but dysregulation of intracellular calcium within the heart is likely to play a key role in initiating and perpetuating these life-threatening events. We now know that several aspects of cardiac calcium regulation significantly change with advancing age - changes that could produce electrical instability. Further development of knowledge of the mechanisms underlying these changes will allow us to reduce what currently is an inevitable increase in the incidence of arrhythmias in the elderly.
authors: Biological Sciences and HYMS, University of Hull, Kingston-Upon-Hull, UK.
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: Hatch
authors: Matthew K
authors: MK
authors: Lancaster
authors: Sandra A
authors: SA
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents