Physiological changes in respiratory function associated with ageing

Some airways may be narrowed or closed during normal tidal breathing in older individuals, thereby increasing functional residual capacity and reducing expiratory airflow from the lungs.

“As a result, some airways may be narrowed or closed during normal tidal breathing in older individuals, thereby increasing the functional residual capacity and reducing the expiratory airflow from the lungs (12, 13).”

Despite an age-associated reduction in elastic recoil, due to decreased respiratory strength and chest wall compliance, total lung capacity does not significantly change with age.

“Despite an age-associated reduction in elastic recoil, due to decreased respiratory strength and chest wall compliance, total lung capacity does not significantly change with age (7, 12, 14, 19).”

There is a decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) by approximately 20 mL/year with age.

“Specifically, there is a decline in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) by approximately 30 mL/year and forced vital capacity (FVC) by approximately 20 mL/year, which results in an age-associated decline in the FEV1/FVC ratio (7, 12–14, 20, 21).”

Even in healthy persons, lung function declines starting at the age of 35.

“It is well appreciated that, even in healthy persons, lung function declines starting at the age of 35.”

As a person ages, there is a decrease in resting arterial oxygen tension, which gives rise to diminished gas exchange in the lungs.

“As a person ages, there is a decrease in resting arterial oxygen tension, which gives rise to diminished gas exchange in the lungs (7, 12, 22).”

There is an age-associated decline in the FEV1/FVC ratio.

“Specifically, there is a decline in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) by approximately 30 mL/year and forced vital capacity (FVC) by approximately 20 mL/year, which results in an age-associated decline in the FEV1/FVC ratio (7, 12–14, 20, 21).”

There is a decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) by approximately 30 mL/year with age.

“Specifically, there is a decline in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) by approximately 30 mL/year and forced vital capacity (FVC) by approximately 20 mL/year, which results in an age-associated decline in the FEV1/FVC ratio (7, 12–14, 20, 21).”

Age-associated changes in genomic instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic alterations, cellular senescence, impaired autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction may promote IPF development and progression.

“Further, age-associated changes in genomic instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic alterations, cellular senescence, impaired autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction may promote IPF development and progression (3, 12, 62, 84, 88, 89, 116, 145).”