Cutaneous vasoconstriction (VC), a critical thermoregulatory response to cold, is generally impaired with aging. However, the effects of aging on local cooling-induced VC and its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We tested whether aged skin exhibits attenuated localized cold-induced VC and whether Rho kinase-mediated cold-induced VC is augmented with age. Skin blood flow was monitored with laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) on 7 young and 7 older subjects. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; LDF/mean arterial pressure) was expressed as percentage change from baseline (%CVC_base). Protocol 1: Two forearm skin sites were cooled to six temperatures (31.5-19°C) for 10 minutes each or two temperatures (29°C, 24°C) for 30 minutes each, with no age differences in the magnitude of VC. Protocol 2: Three forearm skin sites were instrumented for intradermal microdialysis and cooled to 24°C for 40 minutes. During minutes 1-5, there was no age difference in CVC responses at control sites (young: -45±6 vs. older: -46±3%, p>0.9). Adrenoceptor antagonism (yohimbine+propranolol) abolished VC in young (to +15±13%, p<0.05) but only partially inhibited VC in older subjects (to -23±6%, p<0.05). Rho kinase inhibition+adrenoceptor antagonism (yohimbine+propranolol+fasudil) abolished VC in both groups. During minutes 35-40, there was no age difference in control (young: -77±4 vs. older: -70±2%, p>0.3) or adrenoceptor-antagonized responses (young: -61±3 vs. older: -55±2%, p>0.3); however, Rho kinase inhibition+adrenoceptor antagonism blocked more VC in older compared to young subjects (-19±11 vs. -35±3%, p<0.05). Although its magnitude remains unaffected, cold-induced VC becomes less dependent on adrenergic and more dependent on Rho kinase signaling with advancing age.