As we age, what change occurs in the heart?

As we age, what change occurs in the heart?

• A. Increases
• B. Functional volume decreases
• C. Increases ejection fraction
• D. Increases heart rate

Answer: (B)

As we age, the heart becomes stiffer and less compliant, especially the ventricles. That diastolic stiffening makes it harder for the ventricle to fill fully, so the end-diastolic volume and thus the amount the heart can pump with each beat—the functional volume—tends to decrease. Systolic function, measured by ejection fraction, is typically preserved at rest in healthy aging, and resting heart rate tends to stay the same or decrease, while maximum heart rate declines. So the change most consistent with aging is a decrease in functional volume.

As we age, the heart becomes stiffer and less compliant, especially the ventricles. That diastolic stiffening makes it harder for the ventricle to fill fully, so the end-diastolic volume and thus the amount the heart can pump with each beat—the functional volume—tends to decrease. Systolic function, measured by ejection fraction, is typically preserved at rest in healthy aging, and resting heart rate tends to stay the same or decrease, while maximum heart rate declines. So the change most consistent with aging is a decrease in functional volume.