Which change is commonly seen in the cardiovascular system with aging?

As individuals age, a variety of physiological changes occur within the cardiovascular system, one of the most notable being increased stiffness of arterial walls. This change is closely related to the accumulation of collagen and other structural proteins in the arterial walls, leading to a reduction in their elasticity. Consequently, the arteries become less capable of accommodating changes in blood volume and pressure during the cardiac cycle.

Increased stiffness contributes to elevated systolic blood pressure, often resulting in conditions such as isolated systolic hypertension, which is common in the elderly. This change in compliance and elasticity is significant because it affects how the heart and blood vessels interact during the pumping of blood. As the arteries become stiffer, the workload on the heart can increase, which may lead to further cardiovascular issues over time.

Other options reflect changes that do not align with typical age-related cardiovascular physiology. For instance, cardiac output may decline in older adults due to decreased heart rate response and impaired contractility, rather than increase. Additionally, systolic blood pressure often does not decrease; in fact, it more commonly increases due to the increased arterial stiffness. Lastly, vascular compliance decreases rather than increases, further solidifying the notion that aged arteries have reduced ability to expand and contract effectively.