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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2015 Apr 11;83:1–13. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.04.005

Figure 8. Conceptual model of arterial aging and arterial decline.

Figure 8

Age-associated molecular disorders and cumulative mechanical stress lead to a state of chronic inflammation, elastin degradation and endothelial and VSMC dysfunction. These products interact and lead to arterial wall calcification, fibrosis, amyloid deposition, VSMCs proliferation, and increased intimal medial thickness. These structural changes lead to functional alterations resulting in widened pulse pressure. The increase in pulsality leads to increase left ventricular load, chronic kidney disease, and vascular dementia. (From Ref. 6)