Ageing reduces sympatho-suppressive response to head-out water immersion in humans

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is suppressed during thermoneutral head-out water immersion (HOI) in humans. In this study, the effects of ageing on the suppressive response of MSNA to HOI were determined. MSNA was recorded microneurographically from the tibial nerve in 16 healthy men, 10 of whom were aged 19-30 years (young group) and six aged 45-67 years (older group). MSNA was suppressed in all the subjects during HOI. The suppressive response was significantly less prominent in the older group than in the young group. A significant negative correlation between age and the suppressive response of MSNA induced by HOI (r = -0.53, P < 0.05) was found. We conclude that suppressive response of sympathetic nerve activity to HOI is reduced with age.