Function In Old Age Research Articles

Book Reviews

Computed Tomography In Head Injuries, by W. Lanksch, Th. Grumme, and E. Kazner. Translated by F. C. Dougherty. Published by: Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1979.The Psychology Of Cognition, by G. Cohen. Academic Press, New York, 1977.Correlation And Causality, by David A. Kenney. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1979.Electronics, by J. M. Calvert, M. A. V. McCausland. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1979.Human Neuropsychology, by Henri Hecaen and Martin L. Albert. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1978.Clinical Neuropsychology, by Kenneth M. Heilman and Edward Valenstein. Oxford University Press, New York, 1979.The Psychopharmacology Of Hallucinogens, by R. C. Stillman and R. E. Willette (Eds). New York: Pergamon Press, 1978.Brain Function In Old Age, by F. Hoff-mister and C. Muller (Eds). Evaluation of changes and disorders. Bayer Symposium VII. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1979.Polydrug Abuse: The Results Of A National Collaborative Study, by D. R. Wesson, A. S. Carlin, K. M. Adams and G. Beschner (Eds). New York: Academic Press, 1978.Strategies In Cold: Natural Torpidity And Thermogenesis, by L. C. H. Wang and J. W. Hudson (Eds). New York: Academic Press, 1978.The Psychobiology Of Mind, by N. J. Hillside, Lawrence Erlbaum A.S.S., Publishers, 1978.Modulators, Mediators, And Specifiers In Brain Function, by Y. H. Ehrlich, J. Volavka, L. G. Davis, and E. G. Brunngraber (Eds.). New York, Plenum Press, 1979.

Primary Groups in Old Age

The effects of aging and its correlates on the structure and function of primary groups in a modern industrial society are examined using the theoretical framework suggested by Litwak and Szelenyi (1969). After a brief summary of the basic theoretical assumptions, a series of factors are discussed that affect primary group structure and function in old age in unique ways. Alternative theories are reviewed. Some measurement issues are examined, and problems for future research are suggested.

Age-related changes in reproductive hormones and in Leydig cell responsivity in the male Fischer 344 rat.

Age-related changes in testicular responsiveness to pituitary hormone stimulation were measured in Fischer rats. Suspensions of dispersed Leydig cells were prepared from the testes of groups which were 5, 12 and 29 months old. The suspended cells were challenged with 250, 750 and 2000ng Monkey-LH (LER 1909-2) for two hours and the medium subsequently assayed for testosterone. Concentrations of the hormone were determined per million cells in suspension. Besides measurement of testosterone production by each age group, pituitary and plasma LH, FSH and prolactin, and plasma testosterone were also assayed by radioimmuno-technique. Total testis weight increased in the oldest animals as the result of a high incidence of gonadal pathology. If tumorous tissue was excluded, however, testis weight fell for this group. Also, significant decreases in Leydig cell number were apparent in 12 and 29-month-old rats. Basal testosterone production, on a per million cell basis, however, was not significantly differnet in young and middle-aged rats, nor was the change in the amount of steroid produced by LH stimulation of the isolated Leydig cells. Seminal vesicle weight, prostate weight and serum testosterone decreased with age. Similarly, pituitary LH and FSH concentration decreased, but pituitary prolactin increased. Histological changes and pituitary hypertrophy reflected this increase in prolactin concentration. It is proposed that decreased testicular function in old age may not totally be the result of a decrement in Leydig cell steroid producing capacity, but that it may also occur due to Leydig cell loss, possibly as the result of age associated changes in the brain and pituitary.

Modifiability of fluid intelligence in aging: a short-term longitudinal training approach.

The aim of this study was to examine to what degree fluid intelligence can be modified in aged subjects. The effectiveness of a cognitive training program designed to enhance one primary component of fluid intelligence, Figural Relations, was assessed by comparing the posttraining performances of 15 experimental and 15 control subjects (mean age: 69; age range 59-85) using a transfer paradigm and three posttraining assessments conducted approximately 1 week, 1 mo, and 6 mo following training. The post-training performance of the two groups was compared on three near (fluid intelligence) and one far (crystallized intelligence) transfer measures. A hierarchical pattern was predicted with the magnitude of training effects ordering themselves in descending order from near to far transfer measures. The training program was successful in enhancing performance on the fluid-nearest measure on all three posttests and for the next fluid-near measure on the first posttest. In addition, significant retest effects resulted which, however, were neither task-specific nor hierarchically ordered, but general and therefore indicative of ability-extraneous factors, such as test sophistication. The findings contribute to a position implying that intellectual performance in old age is more modifiable through short-term behavioral intervention than traditionally assumed.

Influence of age and stomach function on serum vitamin B12 concentration.

Serum vitamin B12 (B12), maximal gastric acid output (MAO), and B12 absorption were determined in 82 subjects, age 32 to 85 years, who had normal absorption of radiocyanocobalamin. In 46 of the patients the gastric intrinsic factor (IF) was also measured. Serum B12 concentration and MAO varied widely in all age groups from abnormally low to definitely normal. The mean values for serum B12 and MAO, however, declined very similarly with advancing age owing to an increased incidence of low values for these two measurerment in the aged. There was no significant fall in the mean B12 absorption or IF secretion as a function of old age. Achlorhydric and hypochlorhydric patients invariably had lower mean serum B12 concentrations than those with adequate MAO. Conversely, patients with normal MAO all had normal serum B12 levels. Serum B12 concentration, although correlating with both MAO and IF secretion, showed a closer relationship to the former than to the latter. These findings suggest that the stomach, aside from producing the IF, plays an important role in maintaining a normal serum B12 concentration.

Brain damage and reorganization of function in old age

Old-age rats given one-stage bilateral lesions of the frontal cortex were impaired on a shock avoidance task but were unimpaired on a spatial alternation problem, though both tasks are equally sensitive to removal of this same area in fully mature but younger rats. Old-age rats also failed to exhibit the sparing of function typical of younger adults when the frontal cortex is removed in sequential operations. The lack of impairment on the spatial task in senescent rats with frontal lesions is attributable to a relative deterioration in the performance of old-age controls, which take longer to learn the task than younger intact adults. Histological examination of the thalamic projection areas to frontal cortex in old-age rats revealed considerable cell loss in the intact as well as the brain-damaged cases. The results indicate a possible shift in some of the functions of the frontal cortex with advancing age.

Further studies on Leydig cell function in old age.

ABSTRACT Pathophysiological mechanisms leading to a decreased Leydig cell function in old males were studied. Increased basal plasma LH and FSH levels, an increased pituitary reaction to LHRH 200 μg iv, and a decreased responsiveness of the Leydig cells to hCG stimulation, lead to the conclusion that the decreased Leydig cell function in old age has a primary testicular origin. The plasma estrone and estradiol levels are slightly but significantly increased in elderly males, the free estradiol concentration is however unchanged. There exists a highly significant correlation between the (log transformed) apparent free testosterone concentration and LH and FSH levels suggesting that the feedback of the gonadotropin secretion is regulated via the free rather than via total testosterone levels.

Neuronal populations in the human brain.

THE deterioration of mental function in old age may be due to loss of neurones or decay of their function. Several studies support the former view1,2 but sample sizes and the number of cases reviewed were small. Accordingly we studied the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) because it is well defined and small enough to make accurate counts feasible.

The Assessment of Pulmonary Function in Old Age

The Assessment of Pulmonary Function in Old Age

A comparative study of cognitive functioning in old age.

A comparative study of cognitive functioning in old age.

Critical flicker frequency and some intellectual functions in old age.

Journal Article Critical Flicker Frequency And Some Intellectual Functions In Old Age Get access Armand W. Loranger, Ph.D., Armand W. Loranger, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, Fordham UniversityNew York, N.Y. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Henryk Misiak, Ph.D. Henryk Misiak, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, Fordham UniversityNew York, N.Y. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Gerontology, Volume 14, Issue 3, July 1959, Pages 323–327, https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/14.3.323 Published: 01 July 1959