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Circadian variations in the elderly: A scoping review.
Luciana L Ferreira1, Nadia Rosatto1, Paolo Marzullo1
1Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
Chronobiology International
|March 19, 2024
Summary
Aging disrupts circadian rhythms, affecting body fluid composition. This review found evidence of flattened daily oscillations in older adults, but results varied, highlighting the need for more research.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Gerontology
- Physiology
Background:
- The circadian clock regulates physiological processes.
- Aging can disrupt circadian rhythms, potentially contributing to age-related diseases.
- Understanding age-related changes in body fluid composition is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of studies comparing circadian differences in body fluid composition between young and older individuals.
- To map the existing evidence on how aging affects daily rhythms of various physiological parameters.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and OpenGrey databases.
- Screening of 1889 identified publications by two independent reviewers based on predefined criteria.
- Tabular and narrative summarization of data from 42 eligible studies.
Main Results:
- Identified 48 parameters, including cortisol, melatonin, sex hormones, and thyroid hormones, with many reported in single studies.
- Observed heterogeneous results across studies, with a trend towards flattened circadian oscillations in the elderly.
- Noted inconsistencies and contradictory findings for several analyzed parameters.
Conclusions:
- A significant body of research exists on circadian variations in body fluid composition with aging.
- Evidence suggests age-related flattening of some circadian rhythms, but findings are not universal.
- Further research is necessary to clarify the clinical implications of these observed alterations.
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