Changes in the respiratory system caused by aging generally include structural changes in the thoracic cage and lung parenchyma, abnormal findings on lung function tests, ventilation and gas exchange abnormalities, decreased exercise capacity, and reduced respiratory muscle strength. Decreased respiratory system compliance caused by reduced elastic recoil of the lung parenchymaand thoracic cage is related to decreased energy expenditure by the respiratory system. Lung function, as measured by 1-second forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity (FVC), decreases with age, whereas total lung capacity remains unchanged. FVC decreases because of increased residual volume and diffusion capacity also decreases. Increased physiological dead space and ventilation/perfusion imbalance may reduce blood oxygen levels and increase the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference. More than 20% decrease in diaphragmstrength is thought to beassociated withaging-related muscle atrophy. Ventilation per minute remains unchanged, and blood carbon dioxide concentration does not increase with aging. However, responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia are decreased. Exercise capacity also decreases, and maximum oxygen consumption decreases by >1%/year. Consequence of these changes, many respiratory diseases occur with aging. Thus, it is important to recognize these aging-related respiratory system changes.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Do obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disorders increase the incidence risk of dynapenia in adults aged 50 and older?
  Thales Batista de Souza, Roberta de Oliveira Máximo, Isabella Letícia de Pádua Cruz e Souza, Thaís Barros Pereira da Silva, Mariane Marques Luiz, Sara Souza Lima, Natália Cochar-Soares, Leticia Coelho Silveira, Valdete Regina Guandalini, Patrícia Silva To
  Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.2025; 130: 105701.     CrossRef
• Sex and gender differences during the lung lifespan: unveiling a pivotal impact
  Pasquale Tondo, Claudia Meschi, Marco Mantero, Giulia Scioscia, Matteo Siciliano, Matteo Bradicich, Giulia M. Stella
  European Respiratory Review.2025; 34(175): 240121.     CrossRef
• Different respiratory exercise devices on postoperative outcomes in elderly lung lobectomy patients: A retrospective study
  Ayşe Gökce Işıklı, Zeynep Kızılcık Özkan
  Respiratory Medicine.2025; 248: 108386.     CrossRef
• Inspiratory Muscle Training In Elderly
  Tresia Fransiska Ulianna Tambunan, Dave Nicander Kurnain, Helisa Rachel Patricie Sianipar
  Indonesian Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.2025; 14(2): 303.     CrossRef
• Cut-off Value of Anthropometric Indices for the Prediction of Pulmonary Function and Risk Factors Among the Chiru Tribe of Manipur
  Hosea Thanglen, Urapam Zimik, Ramthar Thanglen
  The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man.2024; 24(2): 229.     CrossRef
• Effects of trunk muscle strength training on lung function in healthy runners
  Yuki NAKAI, Yasufumi TAKESHITA
  The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Longitudinal Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Respiratory Function in Older Individuals : A Longitudinal Study
  Makoto Suzuki, Takaaki Ikeda
  Journal of Comprehensive Nursing Research and Care.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Functional Capacity of the Upper Airway in Older Adults with Chronic Stroke
  Esther Prados-Román, Mónica Zapata-Soria, Irene Cabrera-Martos, Geraldine Valenza-Peña, Andrés Calvache-Mateo, Javier Martín-Núñez, Marie Carmen Valenza
  Geriatrics.2024; 9(6): 140.     CrossRef
• Spirographic study of functional reserves of masters’ athletes in track-and field
  Iryna Ivanyshyn, Ihor Vypasniak, Yurii Ivanyshyn, Roman Boichuk, Oleh Vintoniak, Dmytro Tretiak
  Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports.2024; 28(6): 468.     CrossRef
• Turkish Adaptation, Validity and Reliability Study of Treatment Burden Questionnaire in Geriatric Patients
  Figen AKAY, Tuba ERYİĞİT, Mehmet Fatih ÖS, Kamile SILAY, Güler Balcı ALPARSLAN
  Turkish journal of Geriatrics.2024; : 178.     CrossRef
• Prediction of Lung Function Status Using Handgrip Strength and Anthropometry among the Healthy Malay Population in Malaysia
  Mohd Hasni Ja’afar, Rosnah Ismail, Noor Hassim Ismail, Zaleha Md Isa, Azmi Mohd Tamil, Nafiza Mat Nasir, Tengku Saifudin Tengku Ismail, Nurul Hafiza Ab Razak, Najihah Zainol Abidin, MyLinh Duong, Khairul Hazdi Yusof
  Healthcare.2023; 11(7): 1056.     CrossRef
• Activities of Daily Living and Related Factors in Elderly Patients with Pulmonary Disease Preparing for Discharge
  Hyunwoo Jeong, Sanghee Kim, Mona Choi, Eui Geum Oh
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2022; 34(4): 391.     CrossRef
• Aging, inflammaging and immunosenescence as risk factors of severe COVID-19
  Anteneh Mehari Tizazu, Hylemariam Mihiretie Mengist, Gebreselassie Demeke
  Immunity & Ageing.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Determinants of dynamic inspiratory muscle strength in healthy trained elderly
  A Roldán, A Forte, P Monteagudo, A Cordellat, J Monferrer-Marín, C Blasco-Lafarga
  Postgraduate Medicine.2021; 133(7): 807.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Voice-Related Quality of Life for the Elderly with and without Voice Disorders According to Genders by Aging Voice Index-Korean Version
  Hwa-Young Pyo, Jae-Yol Lim, Sung-Eun Lim, Seung Jin Lee
  Communication Sciences & Disorders.2021; 26(4): 933.     CrossRef
• Age‐related changes in cerebrovascular health and their effects on neural function and cognition: A comprehensive review
  Benjamin Zimmerman, Bart Rypma, Gabriele Gratton, Monica Fabiani
  Psychophysiology.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Yaşlılarda Ortaya Çıkan Fizyolojik Değişiklikler
  Ali AĞAR
  Ordu Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Çalışmaları Dergisi.2020; 3(3): 347.     CrossRef
• Perubahan Fungsi Paru Pada Usia Tua
  Helmia Hasan, Rena Arusita Maranatha
  Jurnal Respirasi.2019; 3(2): 52.     CrossRef
• Possibilities of modern anesthetic management of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients
  O. V. Bielykh
  Problems of Uninterrupted Medical Training and Science.2019; 2019(2): 84.     CrossRef
• Beneficial Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training Combined With Multicomponent Training in Elderly Active Women
  Ainoa Roldán, Ana Cordellat, Pablo Monteagudo, Consolación García-Lucerga, Nieves M. Blasco-Lafarga, Mª Carmen Gomez-Cabrera, Cristina Blasco-Lafarga
  Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport.2019; 90(4): 547.     CrossRef
• Factors Affecting Lung Function: A Review of the Literature
  Alejandro Talaminos Barroso, Eduardo Márquez Martín, Laura María Roa Romero, Francisco Ortega Ruiz
  Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition).2018; 54(6): 327.     CrossRef
• Factores que afectan a la función pulmonar: una revisión bibliográfica
  Alejandro Talaminos Barroso, Eduardo Márquez Martín, Laura María Roa Romero, Francisco Ortega Ruiz
  Archivos de Bronconeumología.2018; 54(6): 327.     CrossRef
• Normal aging: definition and physiologic changes
  Chul Ho Chang, Ki-Young Lee, Yon Hee Shim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2017; 60(5): 358.     CrossRef