title: Early vascular ageing in translation: from laboratory investigations to clinical applications in cardiovascular prevention.
abstract: The ageing of the vascular tree is a fundamental reflection of biological ageing in general and a determinant of organ function. In the arterial wall this is characterized by a reduction in the elastin content, as well as by an increased content of collagen and its cross-linkages, leading to increased arterial stiffness and elevated central as well as brachial blood pressure, accompanied by increased SBP variability. In recent years a better understanding of these processes have led to the proposal of a condition named early vascular ageing (EVA) in patients with increased arterial stiffness for their age and sex. This is a condition that could increase cardiovascular risk and is associated with various degrees of cognitive dysfunction, as well as other features of biological ageing. This brief review aims to give an update on EVA and how the concept can be used in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden. Peter.Nilsson@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boutouyrie
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kotsis
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narkiewicz
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parati
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rietzschel
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scuteri
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laurent
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D012306:Risk; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen