Hypertension and aging

• Hypertension is associated with numerous health risks, and the incidence of hypertension is greatest among older adults.
• Hypertension has numerous collateral risks among older adults including dementia, physical disability, and falls/fractures.
• Inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction jointly contribute to the health risks of late-life hypertension.
• This review highlights the multi-dimensional risks of late-life hypertension and discusses potential treatment strategies.
• Future areas of research for improving overall care for older adults with hypertension are also discussed.

Hypertension is a highly prevalent condition with numerous health risks, and the incidence of hypertension is greatest among older adults. Traditional discussions of hypertension have largely focused on the risks for cardiovascular disease and associated events. However, there are a number of collateral effects, including risks for dementia, physical disability, and falls/fractures which are increasingly garnering attention in the hypertension literature. Several key mechanisms – including inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction – are common to biologic aging and hypertension development and appear to have key mechanistic roles in the development of the cardiovascular and collateral risks of late-life hypertension. The objective of the present review is to highlight the multi-dimensional risks of hypertension among older adults and discuss potential strategies for treatment and future areas of research for improving overall care for older adults with hypertension.

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