Which change is typical of an aging heart?

Which change is typical of an aging heart?

• A. Valvular and annular calcification
• B. Decreased pericardial fat
• C. Increased ventricular size
• D. Decreased collagen connective tissue

Answer: (A)

Calcific degeneration of heart valves is a hallmark of aging. As people get older, calcium gradually deposits in the valve leaflets and in the fibrous ring around them (the annulus), most often seen in the aortic valve. This leads to valve stiffening and can cause stenosis or regurgitation over time. That age-related calcification is the change most classically associated with an aging heart. Other options don’t fit as well: pericardial fat doesn’t typically decrease with age; the aging heart more often shows stiffness with preserved or even reduced chamber size due to less compliant ventricles rather than a true increase in ventricular size; and connective tissue tends to become more fibrotic with aging (more collagen cross-linking), not less.

Calcific degeneration of heart valves is a hallmark of aging. As people get older, calcium gradually deposits in the valve leaflets and in the fibrous ring around them (the annulus), most often seen in the aortic valve. This leads to valve stiffening and can cause stenosis or regurgitation over time. That age-related calcification is the change most classically associated with an aging heart.

Other options don’t fit as well: pericardial fat doesn’t typically decrease with age; the aging heart more often shows stiffness with preserved or even reduced chamber size due to less compliant ventricles rather than a true increase in ventricular size; and connective tissue tends to become more fibrotic with aging (more collagen cross-linking), not less.