Aging is associated with significant changes in structure and function of the kidney, even in
the absence of age-related comorbidities. On the macrostructural level, kidney cortical
volume decreases, surface roughness increases, and the number and size of simple renal
cysts increase with age. On the microstructural level, the histologic signs of nephrosclerosis
(arteriosclerosis/arteriolosclerosis, global glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular
atrophy) all increase with age. The decline of nephron number is accompanied by a …