Mechanical and Geometrical Changes in Human Aorta with Age

The aorta carries blood throughout the human body. With age, there is a notable increase in aortic diameter and decrease in aortic distensibility. The aorta also becomes more stiff and anisotropic. Identification of these age-related geometric changes can help inform treatment strategies and timing for intervention for older adults with aortic diseases. Two of the most common diseases involving the aorta are dissections, a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, and aneurysms, an abnormal enlargement of the aortic wall. Our research investigates the fragile nature of the aorta by characterizing the geometry and mechanics for different patients using mathematical and image-based analysis algorithms. We hypothesize that aortic surface curvature is influenced by each patient's unique physiological state. By assessing aortic geometry under different physiologic stresses, we can better understand how the surface curvature changes in relation to those stresses. We will investigate the effect of aging on wall stresses and hemodynamics in healthy aortas to better inform treatment protocol in older patients.