Consideration regarding human aging and sympathetic nervous system activity suggests that old age represents a hyperadrenergic state. With advancing age the sympathetically mediated stress on the body, specifically the cardiovascular system, may outweigh the benefits an intact sympathetic nervous system conveys for short-term survival. Beta blockers temper the effects of the sympathetic nervous system by slowing heart rate and decreasing blood pressure. Recently, beta blockers have been shown to improve outcome and survival following surgery and myocardial infarction, have beneficial effects in patients with heart failure, and may have an antiatherosclerotic effect. We propose that instituting beta receptor blockade pharmacotherapy at an early age will increase longevity by countering the adverse effects of sympathetically mediated stress.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists Aging