Age-Associated Changes in the Functional State of Microhemocirculation

The microcirculatory bed is a crucial component of the cardiovascular system, at the level of which transcapillary metabolism occurs, which ensures the maintenance of body homeostasis. The analysis of changes in the mechanisms of microcirculation regulation depending on age is directly related to the development of predictive medicine. The aim of the work was to assess the dynamics of functional changes in microcirculation across different age groups and to identify the mechanisms of microcirculatory regulation in relation to age. The study involved volunteers (from the Semyonov town) divided into three age groups. Group 1: 18–44 years old, group 2: 45–59 years old, Group 3: 60–74 years old. The work analyzed the normalized characteristics of the rhythms of blood flow fluctuations, studied the microcirculation index, indicators of oxidative and energy metabolism on the laser diagnostic device “LAZMA ST” (LLC SPE “Lazma”, Russia). The study found that there was a decrease in the amplitudes of the endothelial rhythm (Ae), neurogenic rhythm (An) and heart rate (Ac) in group 2 compared to group 1, which was accompanied by an increase in microcirculation and increased oxidative metabolism. A further increase in perfusion and index of oxidative metabolism in group 3 caused a maximum decrease in the heart rate amplitude (Ac) and an increase in the endothelial (Ae), neurogenic (An) and myogenic (Am) amplitudes compared with groups 1 and 2. Energy metabolism indicators did not change significantly between the groups. Thus, as people age there was an increase in the volume of blood entering the microcirculatory bed and an increase in oxidative metabolism, which was accompanied not only by changes in the reactivity of the cardiac component, but also an increase in the importance of local regulatory mechanisms in group 3.