How varies nonlinearity of heart rate variability in healthy aging

What is it about?

Aging is commonly regarded as a physiological process in which the dynamic complexity of physiological time series and organ systems is gradually lost. This notion is derived from the identification of a decline of nonlinear measures with the advance of aging. However, additional research on cardiovascular control studied through heart rate variability (HRV), i.e., the instantaneous changes in heart rate, shows that despite the constriction of its statistical distribution, the nonlinear organization remains present in advanced age. Here,

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Our results may suggest that the metabolic status of individuals plays a role in the dynamical organization of HRV. Interestingly, the mean HR (i.e. the dynamic setting point of the HRV time series) has also a major impact on the intricate organization of the time series. It is known that the metabolic (long-term) and autonomic (short-term) regulations are strong modulators of HRV34,35. Nevertheless, the observation here of a connection between cardiometabolic indicators and nonlinear organization is quite relevant.