As people get older, their bodies make less of a helpful molecule called nitric oxide, which makes it harder for blood vessels to work properly — and this can cause problems in the heart, brain, reproductive organs, and muscles.

As people get older, their bodies make less nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels stay healthy and open — this study shows that older people and those with Alzheimer’s have less of this important molecule and worse blood flow, supporting the idea that aging harms blood vessels by reducing nitric oxide.

This study says that as people get older, their bodies make less of a helpful molecule called nitric oxide, which keeps blood vessels healthy — and that’s one reason older people are more likely to have heart, brain, and muscle problems.

As people get older, their bodies make less of a helpful molecule called nitric oxide, which keeps blood vessels and other tissues working well. This study shows that less nitric oxide in older people helps explain why heart, brain, sex, and muscle functions often decline with age.