Fractional-Order Modeling of Arterial Compliance in Vascular Aging: A Computational Biomechanical Approach for Investigating Cardiovascular Dynamics

Goal: The goal of this study is to investigate the application of fractional-order calculus in modeling arterial compliance in human vascular aging. Methods: A novel fractional-order modified arterial Windkessel model that incorporates a fractional-order capacitor (FOC) element is proposed to capture the complex and frequency-dependent properties of arterial compliance. The model's performance is evaluated by verifying it using data collected from three different human subjects, with a specific focus on aortic pressure and flow rates. Results: The results show that the FOC model accurately captures the dynamics of arterial compliance, providing a flexible means to estimate central blood pressure distribution and arterial stiffness. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential of fractional-order calculus in advancing the modeling and characterization of arterial compliance in human vascular aging. The proposed FOC model can improve our understanding of the physiological changes in arterial compliance associated with aging and help to identify potential interventions for age-related cardiovascular diseases.