scholarly journals Plasma ghrelin levels in healthy elderly volunteers: the levels of acylated ghrelin in elderly females correlate positively with serum IGF-I levels and bowel movement frequency and negatively with systolic blood pressure

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Akamizu ◽  
T Murayama ◽  
S Teramukai ◽  
K Miura ◽  
I Bando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Bowel Movement ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Acylated Ghrelin ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Movement Frequency ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Bowel Movement Frequency

Aging is associated with a decrease in growth hormone (GH) secretion, appetite and energy intake. As ghrelin stimulates both GH secretion and appetite, reductions in ghrelin levels may be involved in the reductions in GH secretion and appetite observed in the elderly. However, only preliminary studies have been performed on the role of ghrelin in elderly subjects. In this study, we sought to clarify the physiologic implications of the age-related alterations in ghrelin secretion by determining plasma ghrelin levels and other clinical parameters in healthy elderly subjects. Subjects were ≥ 65 years old, corresponding to the SENIEUR protocol, had not had a resection of the upper gastrointestinal tract and had not been treated with hormones. One hundred and five volunteers (49 men and 56 women) were admitted to this study (73.4 ± 6.3 years old). Plasma levels of acylated ghrelin in elderly female subjects positively correlated with serum IGF-I levels and bowel movement frequency and negatively with systolic blood pressure. In elderly men, desacyl ghrelin levels correlated only weakly with bowel movement frequency. These findings suggest that the plasma levels of the acylated form of ghrelin may influence the age-related alterations in GH/IGF-I regulation, blood pressure and bowel motility. These observational associations warrant further experimental studies to clarify the physiologic significance of these effects.

scholarly journals Plasma ghrelin concentrations in elderly subjects: comparison with anorexic and obese patients

2002 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. R1-R5 ◽  
Author(s):  
AE Rigamonti ◽  
AI Pincelli ◽  
B Corra ◽  
R Viarengo ◽  
SM Bonomo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Serum Insulin ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Baseline Serum ◽  
Insulin Levels ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Fasting Plasma ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Igf I

Ghrelin, a novel endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor, has been reported to stimulate GH secretion and food intake in both humans and other animals. Interestingly, recent data indicate that ghrelin is up- and down-regulated in anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity, which are also known to be accompanied by increased and reduced GH levels respectively. Ageing is associated with a gradual but progressive reduction in GH secretion, and by alterations in appetite and food intake. The role of ghrelin in the decline of somatotroph function and the anorexia of ageing is unknown. To investigate the influence of age on circulating levels of ghrelin, a total of 19 young and old normal weight subjects (Y-NW, n=12; O-NW, n=7), six patients with active AN (A-AN), and seven patients with morbid obesity (OB) were studied. In addition to fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations, baseline serum TSH, IGF-I and insulin levels were measured. Mean plasma ghrelin concentrations in A-AN or OB were higher and lower respectively than those present in Y-NW. Interestingly, mean plasma ghrelin concentrations in O-NW were significantly lower than those present in Y-NW and superimposable on those of OB. The mean fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations in all groups of subjects were negatively correlated with body mass index and serum insulin levels, but not with TSH and IGF-I levels. This study provides evidence of an age-related decline of plasma ghrelin concentrations, which might explain, at least partially, the somatotroph dysregulation and the anorexia of the elderly subject.

Effect of ‘Autonomic Blockade’ on Cardiac β-Adrenergic Chronotropic Responsiveness in Healthy Young, Healthy Elderly and Endurance-Trained Elderly Subjects

1994 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Ford ◽  
O. F. W. James
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Autonomic Blockade ◽  
Young Subjects

1. Cardiac chronotropic responses to isoprenaline are reduced with ageing in man. It is unclear whether this is due to reduced cardiac β-adrenergic sensitivity or to age-associated differences in reflex cardiovascular responses to the vasodilatory effects of isoprenaline. Age-associated changes in physical activity are also reported to influence β-adrenergic sensitivity. 2. The aim of the present study was to determine the contribution of alterations in reflex changes in parasympathetic and sympathetic influences and physical fitness to the age-associated reduction in cardiac chronotropic responses to β-adrenergic agonists. 3. The effect of ‘autonomic blockade’ with atropine (40 μg/kg intravenously) and clonidine (4 μg/kg intravenously) on blood pressure, heart rate and chronotropic responses to intravenous bolus isoprenaline doses was determined in eight healthy young (mean age 21 years), nine healthy elderly (72 years) and 10 endurance-trained elderly (69 years) subjects. 4. Elderly subjects had a reduced increase in heart rate after atropine (young, 49 ± 9 beats/min; elderly, 36 ± 5 beats/min; endurance-trained elderly, 34 ± 12 beats/min; P < 0.01) and did not demonstrate the transient increase in systolic blood pressure after clonidine observed in young subjects (young, 11 ± 10 mmHg; elderly, −12 ± 16 mmHg; endurance-trained elderly, −18 ± 11 mmHg; P < 0.01). 5. Cardiac chronotropic sensitivity to isoprenaline after ‘autonomic blockade’ increased in the young but decreased in the elderly subjects. The isoprenaline dose that increased heart rate by 25 beats/min before and after autonomic blockade' was: young, before 1.6 μg, after 2.8 μg, P < 0.01 (geometric mean, paired test); elderly, before 6.9 μg, after 3.6 μg, P < 0.05; endurance-trained elderly, before 5.9 μg, after 4.0 μg, P < 0.05. Cardiac chronotropic sensitivity to isoprenaline was significantly reduced in elderly compared with young subjects before (P < 0.01) but was similar after (P = 0.09) ‘autonomic blockade’. Chronotropic sensitivity did not differ between healthy and endurance-trained elderly subjects before or after ‘autonomic blockade’. 6. The age-associated reduction in cardiac chronotropic responses to bolus isoprenaline is primarily due to an age-related reduction in the influence of reflex cardiovascular responses on heart rate and not to an age-related reduction in cardiac β-adrenergic sensitivity. Endurance training is not associated with altered β-adrenergic chronotropic sensitivity in the elderly. The transient pressor response to intravenously administered clonidine may be lost in ageing man.

Effect of Age on Vascular α-Adrenoceptor Responsiveness in Man

1982 ◽  
Vol 63 (s8) ◽  
pp. 305s-308s ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry L. Elliott ◽  
David J. Sumner ◽  
Kathleen McLean ◽  
Peter C. Rubin ◽  
John L. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Comparable Amount ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mean Heart Rate

1. The responsiveness of α-receptors was compared in six young and six healthy elderly subjects by evaluating the haemodynamic effects of the a, antagonist prazosin and the pressor responses to the a, agonist phenylephrine. 2. Oral prazosin (1 mg) lowered erect (but not supine) blood pressure in both groups by a comparable amount: in young and old groups the respective maximal falls in systolic pressure were 19.5 ± 15.7 and 29.3 ± 11.4 mmHg (mean ± sd) and for diastolic pressure the maximal falls were 13 ± 13.3 and 18 ± 11.1 mmHg. 3. This similar fall in blood pressure occurred in association with a significantly different heart rate response: in the young group mean heart rate increased to 103 beats/min but there was no corresponding increase in the elderly group, which had a mean heart rate of 80 beats/min. 4. Log dose-response curves were derived from incremental intravenous infusions of phenylephrine, and the doses required to raise mean arterial pressure by 20 mmHg (PD20) were compared: the mean PD20 was significantly different in the two groups: 2.5 ± 1.6 in the young compared with 4.6 ± 2.3 μg min−1 kg−1 in the elderly, consistent with reduced pressor responsiveness in the elderly. 5. No significant difference in PD20 was apparent when pressor responsiveness was determined after prazosin, but the elderly required a significantly smaller increase in phenylephrine dosage to overcome prazosin's α-receptor-blocking effects. 6. Although there is no evidence of an age-related increase in the sensitivity of α-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction, the results are not inconsistent with an age-related reduction in α-adrenoceptor responsiveness.

W1903 Prevalence and Factors Associated With Low Bowel Movement Frequency in Hospitalized Older Adults

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (5) ◽  
pp. S-762-S-763
Author(s):  
Jen-Tzer Gau ◽  
Michael Finamore ◽  
Steve Walston ◽  
Victor Heh ◽  
Tzu-Cheg Kao
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Bowel Movement ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Movement Frequency ◽  
Bowel Movement Frequency ◽  
Hospitalized Older Adults

Campodimele Study: Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Pattern in Clinically Healthy Elderly Subjects

1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 381-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Cugini ◽  
G. Leone ◽  
P. Lucia ◽  
F. A. Sepe ◽  
A. Pelosio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Heart Rate Pattern ◽  
Healthy Elderly Subjects

Bowel movement frequency in late-life and incidental Lewy bodies

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 1581-1586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Abbott ◽  
G. Webster Ross ◽  
Helen Petrovitch ◽  
Caroline M. Tanner ◽  
Daron G. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bowel Movement ◽  
Lewy Bodies ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Movement Frequency ◽  
Bowel Movement Frequency
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