Do chronotropic effects change with age?
Intrinsic heart rate, the natural pacemaker rhythm of the heart, decreases by approximately 0.5 to 0.7 beats per minute per year, starting in early adulthood. This means that, yes, **do chronotropic effects change with age**, with significant impacts on the heart's function and exercise capacity, even in healthy individuals. The changes are primarily driven by shifts in the autonomic nervous system and alterations within the heart's pacemaker cells.