Age-Related Dysfunction of Water Homeostasis

Dehydration can be an issue in older people. As in every complex system in the body, the mechanisms by which hydration is regulated become dysfunctional with advancing age. Researchers here look at the brain region responsible for regulating some of the response to dehydration, cataloging altered gene expression in search of the more important mechanisms involved in the vulnerability of old people to harmful levels of dehydration. Ageing is accompanied by an increased prevalence of disorders of body salt and water composition. As revealed by the UK Dehydration Recognition In Our Elders (DRIE), 20% of residents in care are dehydrated. Many elderly patients admitted to the hospital present osmotic balance disorders, and dehydration (DH) is often a cause of morbidity and mortality in senior citizens. Thus, to improve healthy living among the elderly, we need to understand why salt and water imbalances occur in this age group. Both peripheral and central mechanisms controlling salt and water homoeostasis change with age. Ageing is accompanied by a gradual decline in renal function, with urine-concentrating capacities reduced in the elderly compared to younger subjects. This diminished ability to conserve bodily water, accompanied by reduced thirst and insufficient water intake after fluid deprivation, makes the elderly more prone to DH. Ageing is associated with altered neuroendocrine function. In the context of the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON), which mak...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs