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Does the maximal AV/O2 difference decrease with age?

While maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is known to decline with age, the specific contributions of its component parts, including the maximal arteriovenous oxygen (AV/O2) difference, are more debated. The maximal AV/O2 difference, which reflects how efficiently working muscles extract oxygen from the blood, shows inconsistent age-related changes across different studies. Research suggests that while there is an age-related decline in VO2max, the relative contribution of AV/O2 difference versus cardiac output may shift over a person's lifespan.