Large Artery Stiffness and Baroreflex Function

To the Editor:We read with interest the recent article by Monahan et al1 that examined the relationship between carotid arterial compliance and baroreflex sensitivity in the context of aging and fitness. The authors demonstrate that age-related carotid artery stiffening is associated with a smaller carotid diameter change in response to a given increase in systolic blood pressure. Thus, baroreceptor activation is attenuated and likely accounts for the lower cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity reported in older individuals. Endurance-trained individuals are known to have large arteries that are more elastic than their sedentary counterparts, a phenomenon likely to reduce age-related impairment in baroreflex function in older athletes.1,2⇓The findings of Monahan et al1 are of particular relevance in disease …