Preface

Foreword
A host of Interconnections.

Age and the Heart
Studies show that the heart changes with age but does not necessarily deteriorate in all ways - and that it can continue to support a physically fit body.

The Rest of the Journey: Blood Vessels and Aging
Age has a lot to do with stiffening blood vessels which seem to have a lot to do with heart function.

Cellular Clues
Discoveries in the world of cells, molecules, and genes could hold the ultimate answer to heart health.

Afterword
What Lies Ahead?

Glossary

In Brief

Heart Dynamics

Measuring the Heart

The Biology of Physical Fitness

Arteries: Young and Old

Age and Arteries

Measuring Stiffness

When the Brain Talks to the Heart - Does Age Make a Difference?

How a Myocyte Contracts

Exercise and the Aging Myocyte

What Happens During Atherosclerosis?

Can Gene Therapy Be Used to Treat Heart Problems?

This material is reproduced with the permission of the National Institute on Aging.

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