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Summary
Elderly individuals exhibit significantly reduced sweating responses and higher body temperature thresholds for sweating onset compared to younger adults. This impaired thermoregulation in older men and women may contribute to heat-related mortality.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Gerontology
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- Aging is associated with physiological changes affecting thermoregulation.
- Impaired sweating can increase health risks in older populations, particularly during heat waves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in sweating responses.
- To compare sweating activity in elderly men and women with younger controls.
Main Methods:
- Measured sweating responses to thermal stimulation and intradermal injections of acetylcholine/methacholine.
- Compared responses in 28 men and 18 women (aged 70+) with younger subjects.
Main Results:
- A marked reduction in sweating activity was observed in the majority of aged men.
- Elderly individuals showed an increased body temperature threshold for sweating onset.
- These reductions and elevated thresholds were more pronounced in aged females, with significant inter-individual variability.
Conclusions:
- Diminished sweating function impairs thermoregulation in the elderly.
- Impaired thermoregulation is a potential factor contributing to increased mortality in older adults during heat waves.