Patterns of plasma melatonin with ageing and mental condition: stability of nyctohemeral rhythms and differences in seasonal variations

1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvan Touitou ◽  
Michèle Fèvre ◽  
Andrè Bogdan ◽  
Alain Reinberg ◽  
Jean De Prins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Women ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Mental Condition ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Peak Time ◽  
Seasonal Rhythms ◽  
Plasma Melatonin ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract. Effects of ageing and mental condition on the nyctohemeral and seasonal rhythms of plasma melatonin in human subjects were investigated. Four groups of subjects were formed for a transverse study: 7 healthy young men (24 years), 6 elderly women, 6 elderly men and 6 elderly patients (2 men and 4 women) suffering from senile dementia (70–80 years). The subjects were synchronized. Blood samples were taken every 4 h during 24 h in January, March, June and October. In comparison to young men, the plasma levels of melatonin were markedly decreased (by about one half) in elderly subjects without any difference according to sex or mental condition. Nyctohemeral rhythms of the hormone were validated in all groups and at all sampling sessions. The nyctohemeral acrophases were remarkably stable (around 03.00 h) whatever the season, age or sex. A seasonal variation was found in all groups (except elderly women) with differences between young and elderly subjects: plasma melatonin levels were significantly lower in January than in June in young men, whereas in elderly subjects they were significantly lower in October than in January/March. No significant difference was observed in mesor, amplitude or acrophase of nyctohemeral and seasonal rhythms of plasma melatonin in patients with senile dementia when compared with healthy elderly subjects. The stability of the nyctohemeral peak time whatever the age group or season as opposed to the differences in the seasonal pattern of plasma melatonin according to the age groups raises the problems of both outdoor photoperiod and ageing in ruling the secretion of melatonin in man.

Seasonal rhythms of plasma gonadotrophins: their persistence in elderly men and women

1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvan Touitou ◽  
Michel Lagoguey ◽  
André Bogdan ◽  
Alain Reinberg ◽  
Hervé Beck
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Circannual Rhythm ◽  
Elderly Men ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Seasonal Rhythms ◽  
The Core

Circannual changes of immunoreactive LH and FSH were documented on a circadian basis in January, March, June and October in four groups of subjects: seven young men, six elderly men, six elderly women and six men and women suffering from senile dementia. The sampling was serially dependent only for the young men and the core subgroups of elderly men and elderly women. A circadian rhythm for FSH was not detected in any group of subjects during any of the sampling sessions, whereas a circadian rhythm for LH was detected twice (June and October) in young men, once (October) in elderly demented patients, and not at all in the groups of elderly men and women. Both 24-h and yearly mean levels of gonadotrophins were higher in elderly subjects (two-to 25-fold according to the hormone, sex and season) than in young men. Circannual rhythms of plasma LH with large amplitudes were validated by the cosinor method, with an acrophase located in April or May. A circannual rhythm of plasma FSH was validated only in young men, with an acrophase in October. The persistence of a circannual rhythm of plasma LH with large amplitude in elderly subjects, associated with high mean levels of the hormone, especially in elderly women, suggests that this bioperiodicity of the pituitary gland is independent of gonadal function.

Age- and sex-associated modification of plasma melatonin concentrations in man. Relationship to pathology, malignant or not, and autopsy findings

1985 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Touitou ◽  
M. Fevre-Montange ◽  
J. Proust ◽  
E. Klinger ◽  
J. P. Nakache
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Women ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Autopsy Findings ◽  
Plasma Melatonin ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Pineal Function ◽  
Diagnostic Applications ◽  
Inflammatory Syndrome

Abstract. Plasma melatonin concentrations were determined in 757 unselected elderly patients aged 80.9 ± 9.7 years. The daytime (8–9.30 h) plasma levels of melatonin were in the so-called normal range in only one third of the population whereas 65% of the subjects had abnormal levels of the hormone, most often decreased i.e. less than 0.17 nmol/l (53%) and sometimes increased i.e. 0.43 nmol/l or higher (12%). A control group of healthy elderly subjects showed the same distribution as the entire population. A sex-difference with significantly higher levels of plasma melatonin in elderly women was observed. With respect to pathology and autopsy findings high levels of the hormone correlated with cancer, chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disease, biological inflammatory syndrome and diabetes. Low levels correlated with neurologic disease, tobacco or alcohol addiction. However, some of these relations were found to be sex-related as they were observed in women but not in men. Our data indicate that pineal function seems to be often altered in elderly human subjects and suggest potential diagnostic applications of melatonin determination.

Adrenal circadian system in young and elderly human subjects: a comparative study

1982 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvan Touitou ◽  
José Sulon ◽  
André Bogdan ◽  
Catherine Touitou ◽  
Alain Reinberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Temporal Organization ◽  
Adrenocortical Function ◽  
Total Cortisol ◽  
Healthy Elderly

Circadian changes in plasma 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC), total and unbound cortisol were studied in four groups: seven healthy young men, six elderly men, six elderly women and six elderly demented patients of both sexes. The daily activities of the subjects were synchronous; blood samples were taken every 4 h and 4 hourly urine samples were collected only from the young men. A circadian rhythm was defined for plasma 18-OH-DOC, total and unbound cortisol in all groups; the secretory patterns of these steroids were parallel, as were the profiles of urinary 18-OH-DOC and unconjugated cortisol. When compared with respect to sex, the 24-h mean level of total cortisol was higher in women; that of unbound cortisol was higher in the three groups of elderly patients than in the young men. No major changes in plasma steroids were observed between elderly demented patients (mainly women) and healthy elderly women. The phasing of total and unbound cortisol showed no major modifications with age, sex or senile dementia. Acrophases of 18-OH-DOC were earlier in elderly patients than in young men. Amplitudes were not modified with sex in elderly patients but were always lower in the demented patients. A circadian rhythm was defined for 18-OH-DOC, unconjugated cortisol, 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OH-CS) and 17-ketosteroids in the urine of the young men. The acrophases of 18-OH-DOC and unbound cortisol were close, as were those of 17-OH-CS and 17-ketosteroids. The lag was short between the acrophases of 18-OH-DOC in plasma and urine and between those of plasma unbound cortisol and urinary unconjugated cortisol; it was much larger between the acrophases of plasma total cortisol and 17-OH-CS. Thus, the process of ageing, and the possible alterations in the central nervous system which are often seen in normal ageing, induced no major modifications in the temporal organization of adrenocortical function, even in subjects who were very advanced in age.

scholarly journals Effects of Pet Insects on Cognitive Function among the Elderly: An fMRI Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Yeon Park ◽  
Hae-Jin Ko ◽  
A-Sol Kim ◽  
Ha-Na Moon ◽  
Hye-In Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Insect Rearing ◽  
Group I ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group Ii

Animal-assisted therapy has positive effects on cognitive function, depression, performance ability, and social functioning in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rearing pet insects on the cognitive function of healthy elderly participants, with fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) being used for this purpose. Community-dwelling right-handed elderly women (≥60 years) with normal cognitive function were enrolled and randomized at a 1:1 ratio into two groups: insect-rearing and control (n = 16) groups, with the insect-rearing group being further classified into two groups for analysis according to the subjects’ scores in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST) at the baseline fMRI: Insect-rearing group I with a relatively high score (n = 13), and insect-rearing group II with a relatively low score (n = 6). The insect-rearing groups received and reared crickets as pet insects for 8 weeks. The WCST consisted of two variations, a high level baseline (HLB) and semi-WCST version. There was a significant difference accuracy of the HLB–semi-WCST (p < 0.05) in insect-rearing group II after 8 weeks from the baseline test. In the fMRI analysis involving the WCST reaction test, increased activation was observed in the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex in insect-rearing group II when the semi-WCST, rather than the HLB, was performed. Rearing pet insects showed positive effects on executive functions and performance improvement in elderly women. Further larger studies on the effects of pet insects on cognitive function are warranted.

Nutritional State of Elderly Women on Admission to Mental Hospital

1985 ◽  
Vol 147 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Hancock ◽  
R. P. Hullin ◽  
P. R. Aylard ◽  
J. R. King ◽  
D. B. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Mental Hospital ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Low Levels

Since nutritional deficiencies might worsen the severity of symptoms and prolong the length of illness in non-nutritional disorders, particularly in the elderly, we examined the nutritional status of 216 elderly women newly admitted to a mental hospital. Compared to healthy elderly women, they had lower values for plasma prealbumin, vitamin C, and B vitamins. This was particularly common in senile dementia, and appeared to be the result of inadequate intake of protein or vitamins. Regular hospital diet for one month corrected the very low levels of prealbumin, but supplements were essential to remove deficiency of the water-soluble vitamins. Although vitamin supplements did not influence the length of stay in hospital, we did not exclude the possibility that nutritional deficiencies have a significant effect on the severity of mental illness.

Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and in the healthy elderly

2002 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. PORTER ◽  
B. S. LUNN ◽  
J. T. O'BRIEN
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Healthy Elderly

Background. The cholinergic system is profoundly impaired in senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) and replacement therapy produces only modest clinical benefits. The serotonergic system is also impaired and may contribute both to cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms in SDAT. To investigate this further we assessed the effects of lowering brain serotonin using the technique of acute tryptophan depletion on cognitive function in patients with SDAT and in age matched control subjects.Method. Sixteen patients with probable SDAT and 17 healthy elderly subjects received two amino acid drinks in a within subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, crossover design. One of the drinks was nutritionally balanced and contained tryptophan (placebo), the other was identical but contained no tryptophan. A battery of detailed neuropsychological tests was performed between 4 and 6 h after the drink. Mood rating scales and other ratings of behavioural and emotional symptoms were also performed on both occasions.Results. Acute tryptophan depletion resulted in impairment on tasks of working memory in both groups. There was no group specific effect. Female SDAT subjects performed better on a task of pattern recognition during acute tryptophan depletion compared with placebo. There were no changes in behavioural symptoms during acute tryptophan depletion in either group.Conclusion. Compromised serotonergic function may be an important contributor to cognitive decline in SDAT and in ageing. Strategies targeting specific 5HT receptors may be helpful in SDAT.

GHRH-induced GH response in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type

1988 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón Cacabelos ◽  
Hisayoshi Niigawa ◽  
Yoshiaki Ikemura ◽  
Yuji Yanagi ◽  
Shigemi Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Onset ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Bioelectrical Activity ◽  
Alzheimer Type ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Ghrh Test ◽  
Senile Dementia Of The

Abstract. To clarify the functional state of the somatotropinergic system at the hypothalamo-hypophyseal level in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, the GHRH test was performed in three groups of subjects: a) healthy elderly subjects; b) early onset senile dementia patients; and c) late onset senile dementia patients. Intravenous administration of GHRH(1–44)NH2 (100 μg) elicited a marked plasma GH response with a maximum peak (709.54 ± 259.0 pmol/l; P < 0.005) 60 min after injection in patients with early onset senile dementia, but no significant response was detected in the other two groups. Electroencephalographic recording showed that GHRH modifies brain bioelectrical activity, decreasing frequency (0.52 ± 0.15 Hz) and increasing amplitude (8.25 ± 4.5 μV) of the electroencephalogram basic rhythm. The evaluation of mental performance and behaviour with a battery of different tests for mental assessment revealed that GHRH induces transient clinical changes in psychomotor behaviour. According to these results, it seems likely that the somatostatin deficiency reported in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type may account for the enhanced GHRH-induced GH response observed in patients with early onset senile dementia. In consequence, the GHRH test might constitute a useful antemortem marker for senile dementia of the Alzheimer type if the present results can be replicated in early stages of the disease.

Differences in the seasonal rhythmicity of plasma prolactin in elderly human subjects: detection in women but not in men

1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvan Touitou ◽  
Alain Carayon ◽  
Alain Reinberg ◽  
André Bogdan ◽  
Hervé Beck
Keyword(s):  
Sex Difference ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Mental Condition ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Elderly Men ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Young And Elderly Subjects ◽  
Seasonal Rhythmicity

Effects of age, sex and mental condition on the circadian and circannual rhythmicity of plasma prolactin in human subjects were investigated. Circannual changes were recorded on a circadian basis in January, March, June and October in four groups of subjects: seven young men, six elderly men, six elderly women and six senile demented patients (two men and four women). Blood samples were drawn every 4 h over a 24-h period at the four sampling sessions. Circadian rhythms of the hormone were validated in all groups and at all sampling sessions except twice in elderly demented subjects. The 24-h mean levels of prolactin in plasma were approximately the same in young and elderly subjects. The circadian acrophases were most often located in the vicinity of 02.00–04.00 h. The circannual rhythmicity of the hormone showed a sex difference; the rhythm was not validated in either young or elderly men but was detected in the groups of elderly women and elderly demented patients (mainly women). The acrophases were located in May. This paper strongly suggests a sex difference in the circannual rhythmicity of plasma prolactin levels in elderly subjects.

scholarly journals Anthropometric Prediction Equations for Estimating Muscle Mass of Elderly Women

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Dara Novi Handayani ◽  
Ahmad Hamim Sadewa ◽  
Arta Farmawati ◽  
Wasilah Rochmah
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Prediction Equations ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Anal Ysis ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Arm Circumference ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level Of Agreement

Muscle Mass (MM) has an important role in health and physical performance. There are many MM prediction equations, but none is formulated in Indonesia. This study aimed to develop Anthropometric Equations (AE) prediction for MM. A cross sectional study was used to formulate AE prediction through multiple regression analysis.  The significance of observed differences between predicted and actual MM was tested by t test while level of agreement was assessed by Bland Altman plot. A significant correlation was found between MM and height, body mass index, calf/arm/waist circumferences, and waist hip ratio (p<0.05).  Regression anal¬ysis indicated that age, height, and Mid Arm Circumference (MAC) contributed significantly to MM. The resulting equation was MM (kg) = -10.22+(-.097x age)+(0.16xheight)+(0.30xMAC). There was no significant difference between actual and predicted MM results, and both had significant correlation. These results suggest that age, AP related to MM and AE provide valid prediction of MM for healthy elderly women in Jakarta.

scholarly journals Fractal scale-invariant and nonlinear properties of cardiac dynamics remain stable with advanced age: a new mechanistic picture of cardiac control in healthy elderly

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (5) ◽  
pp. R1923-R1937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. Schmitt ◽  
Plamen Ch. Ivanov
Keyword(s):  
Heart Beat ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Long Range Correlations ◽  
Nonlinear Properties ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Cardiac Control ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Linear And Nonlinear ◽  
Healthy Elderly Subjects

Heart beat fluctuations exhibit temporal structure with robust long-range correlations, fractal and nonlinear features, which have been found to break down with pathologic conditions, reflecting changes in the mechanism of neuroautonomic control. It has been hypothesized that these features change and even break down also with advanced age, suggesting fundamental alterations in cardiac control with aging. Here we test this hypothesis. We analyze heart beat interval recordings from the following two independent databases: 1) 19 healthy young (average age 25.7 yr) and 16 healthy elderly subjects (average age 73.8 yr) during 2 h under resting conditions from the Fantasia database; and 2) 29 healthy elderly subjects (average age 75.9 yr) during ≈8 h of sleep from the sleep heart health study (SHHS) database, and the same subjects recorded 5 yr later. We quantify: 1) the average heart rate (<R-R>); 2) the SD σR-Rand σΔR-Rof the heart beat intervals R-R and their increments ΔR-R; 3) the long-range correlations in R-R as measured by the scaling exponent αR-Rusing the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis; 4) fractal linear and nonlinear properties as represented by the scaling exponents αsgnand αmagfor the time series of the sign and magnitude of ΔR-R; and 5) the nonlinear fractal dimension D( k) of R-R using the fractal dimension analysis. We find: 1) No significant difference in ( P > 0.05); 2) a significant difference in σR-Rand σΔR-Rfor the Fantasia groups ( P < 10−4) but no significant change with age between the elderly SHHS groups ( P > 0.5); and 3) no significant change in the fractal measures αR-R( P > 0.15), αsgn( P > 0.2), αmag( P > 0.3), and D( k) with age. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that fractal linear and nonlinear characteristics of heart beat dynamics break down with advanced age in healthy subjects. Although our results indeed show a reduced SD of heart beat fluctuations with advanced age, the inherent temporal fractal and nonlinear organization of these fluctuations remains stable. This indicates that the coupled cascade of nonlinear feedback loops, which are believed to underlie cardiac neuroautonomic regulation, remains intact with advanced age.

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