Published: May 13, 2023
With age, parasympathetic activity decreases while sympathetic increases. Thus, the typical older adult has low heart rate variability (HRV) and high noradrenaline levels. Younger adults with this physiological profile tend to be unhappy stressed. Yet, emotional experience tends improve. Why doesn’t adults’ well-being suffer as their HRV decreases? To address apparent paradox, I present autonomic compensation model. In model, failing organs, initial phases of Alzheimer’s pathology, other age-related diseases trigger noradrenergic hyperactivity. compensate, brains increase regulatory in pregenual prefrontal cortex (PFC). Age-related declines nerve conduction reduce ability PFC hyperactive peripheral HRV. But these efforts have a significant impact brain, where they bias processing favor stimuli that (e.g., feelings safety) against threatening stimuli). summary, model posits chronic sympathetic/noradrenergic hyperactivity stimulates attempts side effect enhancing well-being.
Language: Английский