Calcific aortic valve disease is common among the elderly. Until recently, the concept that calcific aortic valve disease is a degenerative and unmodifiable process basically induced by long-lasting mechanical stress was generally accepted. However calcific aortic valve disease is not merely related to age-associated "wear and tear". The development and progression of calcific aortic valve disease are based on an active process that shares a number of similarities with atherosclerosis. Statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have been shown to slow calcium accumulation in aortic valves. Thus, calcific aortic valve disease should not be considered as a degenerative disease anymore.