To determine whether responses to dehydration are altered with age, we investigated the thirst, fluid and electrolyte responses, and hormonal responses to 24 hours of water deprivation in seven healthy active elderly men (67 to 75 years old) and seven healthy young men (20 to 31 years old) who were matched for weight loss during water deprivation. After water deprivation, the older men had greater increases in plasma osmolality, sodium concentration, and vasopressin levels. However, their urinary osmolality was lower and they were less thirsty and drank less after water deprivation, so that their plasma and urine were not diluted to predeprivation levels. Regression analysis indicated increased sensitivity of vasopressin osmoreceptors in the older group, although this difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that after 24 hours of water deprivation, there is a deficit in thirst and water intake in healthy elderly men, as compared with younger men, although vasopressin osmoreceptor responsiveness is maintained or even increased. Our findings also suggest that the well-known deficit in urinary concentrating ability that occurs with age reflects renal causes and not a lack of circulating vasopressin.
This article has been cited by other articles:
Thunhorst, R. L., Beltz, T. G., Johnson, A. K.
(2009). Hypotension- and osmotically induced thirst in old Brown Norway rats. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.
297: R149-R157
[Abstract][Full Text]
Ney, D. M., Weiss, J. M., Kind, A. J. H., Robbins, J.
(2009). Senescent Swallowing: Impact, Strategies, and Interventions. Nutr Clin Pract
24: 395-413
[Abstract][Full Text]
Ackland, G. L., Harrington, J., Downie, P., Holding, J. W., Singh-Ranger, D., Griva, K., Mythen, M. G., Newman, S. P.
(2008). Dehydration Induced by Bowel Preparation in Older Adults Does Not Result in Cognitive Dysfunction. Anesth. Analg.
106: 924-929
[Abstract][Full Text]
Farrell, M. J., Zamarripa, F., Shade, R., Phillips, P. A., McKinley, M., Fox, P. T., Blair-West, J., Denton, D. A., Egan, G. F.
(2008). Effect of aging on regional cerebral blood flow responses associated with osmotic thirst and its satiation by water drinking: A PET study. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
105: 382-387
[Abstract][Full Text]
Lichtenstein, A. H., Rasmussen, H., Yu, W. W., Epstein, S. R., Russell, R. M.
(2008). Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults. J. Nutr.
138: 5-11
[Abstract][Full Text]
Hemmelgarn, B.R., Culleton, B.F., Ghali, W.A.
(2007). Derivation and validation of a clinical index for prediction of rapid progression of kidney dysfunction. QJM
100: 87-92
[Abstract][Full Text]
Musch, W., Verfaillie, L., Decaux, G.
(2006). Age-Related Increase in Plasma Urea Level and Decrease in Fractional Urea Excretion: Clinical Application in the Syndrome of Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone. CJASN
1: 909-914
[Abstract][Full Text]
Wenzel, U. O., Hebert, L. A., Stahl, R. A.K., Krenz, I.
(2006). My Doctor Said I Should Drink a Lot! Recommendations for Fluid Intake in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. CJASN
1: 344-346
[Full Text]
McKinley, M. J., Denton, D. A., Thomas, C. J., Woods, R. L., Mathai, M. L.
(2006). Differential effects of aging on fluid intake in response to hypovolemia, hypertonicity, and hormonal stimuli in Munich Wistar rats. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
103: 3450-3455
[Abstract][Full Text]
Kennedy, E. T
(2006). Evidence for nutritional benefits in prolonging wellness. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
83: 410S-414S
[Abstract][Full Text]
Szinnai, G., Schachinger, H., Arnaud, M. J, Linder, L., Keller, U.
(2005). Effect of water deprivation on cognitive-motor performance in healthy men and women. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.
289: R275-R280
[Abstract][Full Text]
Bossingham, M. J, Carnell, N. S, Campbell, W. W
(2005). Water balance, hydration status, and fat-free mass hydration in younger and older adults. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
81: 1342-1350
[Abstract][Full Text]
Tian, Y., Serino, R., Verbalis, J. G.
(2004). Downregulation of renal vasopressin V2 receptor and aquaporin-2 expression parallels age-associated defects in urine concentration. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol.
287: F797-F805
[Abstract][Full Text]
Luckey, A. E., Parsa, C. J.
(2003). Fluid and Electrolytes in the Aged. Arch Surg
138: 1055-1060
[Abstract][Full Text]
Ayus, J C., Levine, R., Arieff, A. I
(2003). Lesson of the week: Fatal dysnatraemia caused by elective colonoscopy. BMJ
326: 382-384
[Full Text]
Thunhorst, R. L., Johnson, A. K.
(2003). Thirst and salt appetite responses in young and old Brown Norway rats. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.
284: R317-R327
[Abstract][Full Text]
Okazaki, K., Kamijo, Y.-I., Takeno, Y., Okumoto, T., Masuki, S., Nose, H.
(2002). Effects of exercise training on thermoregulatory responses and blood volume in older men. J. Appl. Physiol.
93: 1630-1637
[Abstract][Full Text]
Waise, A, Fisken, R A
(2001). Severe hypernatraemia in obstructive uropathy. JRSM
94: 637-638
[Full Text]
Bhalla, A., Sankaralingam, S., Dundas, R., Swaminathan, R., Wolfe, C. D. A., Rudd, A. G.
(2000). Influence of Raised Plasma Osmolality on Clinical Outcome After Acute Stroke. Stroke
31: 2043-2048
[Abstract][Full Text]
Lindeman, R. D., Romero, L. J., Liang, H. C., Baumgartner, R. N., Koehler, K. M., Garry, P. J.
(2000). Do Elderly Persons Need to Be Encouraged to Drink More Fluids?. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
55: 361M-365
[Abstract][Full Text]
Gillick, M. R.
(2000). Rethinking the Role of Tube Feeding in Patients with Advanced Dementia. NEJM
342: 206-210
[Full Text]
Takamata, A., Ito, T., Yaegashi, K., Takamiya, H., Maegawa, Y., Itoh, T., Greenleaf, J. E., Morimoto, T.
(1999). Effect of an exercise-heat acclimation program on body fluid regulatory responses to dehydration in older men. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.
277: R1041-R1050
[Abstract][Full Text]
Sheehy, C. M., Perry, P. A., Cromwell, S. L.
(1999). Dehydration: Biological Considerations, Age-Related Changes, and Risk Factors in Older Adults. Biol Res Nurs
1: 30-37
[Abstract]
Oskvig, R. M.
(1999). Special Problems in the Elderly. Chest
115
: 158S-164S
[Abstract][Full Text]
Russell, R. M., Rasmussen, H., Lichtenstein, A. H.
(1999). Modified Food Guide Pyramid for People over Seventy Years of Age. J. Nutr.
129: 751-753
[Full Text]
Kirchner, V., Silver, L.E., Kelly, C.A.
(1998). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and hyponatraemia: review and proposed mechanisms in the elderly. J Psychopharmacol
12: 396-400
[Abstract]
Rowland, N. E., Morien, A., Garcea, M., Fregly, M. J.
(1997). Aging and fluid homeostasis in rats. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.
273: R1441-R1450
[Abstract][Full Text]
Lipsitz, L. A.
(1996). An 85-Year-Old Woman With a History of Falls. JAMA
276: 59-66
[Abstract]
Weinberg, A. D., Minaker, K. L., Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical As, , Coble, Y. D. Jr, Davis, R. M., Head, C. A., Howe, J. P. III, Karlan, M. S., Kennedy, W. R., Numann, P. J., Spillman, M. A., Skelton, W. D., Steinhilber, R. M., Strong, J. P., Wagner, H. N. Jr, Allen, J. R., Rinaldi, R. C.
(1995). Dehydration: Evaluation and Management in Older Adults. JAMA
274: 1552-1556
[Abstract]
McCue, J. D.
(1995). The Naturalness of Dying. JAMA
273: 1039-1043
[Abstract]
McCann, R. M., Hall, W. J., Groth-Juncker, A.
(1994). Comfort Care for Terminally III Patients: The Appropriate Use of Nutrition and Hydration. JAMA
272: 1263-1266
[Abstract]
Kellerman, P. S.
(1994). Perioperative Care of the Renal Patient. Arch Intern Med
154: 1674-1688
[Abstract]
Vieweg, V., Lombana, A., Lewis, R.
(1994). Hyper-and Hyponatremia among Geropsychiatric Inpatients. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol
7: 148-152
[Abstract]
Bernat, J. L., Gert, B., Mogielnicki, R. P.
(1993). Patient Refusal of Hydration and Nutrition: An Alternative to Physician-Assisted Suicide or Voluntary Active Euthanasia. Arch Intern Med
153: 2723-2731
[Abstract]
Board, A.S.P.E.N.
(1993). Guidelines for the Use of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition in Adult and Pediatric Patients. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr
17: 1SA-52SA
Friedman, E., Shadel, M., Halkin, H., Farfel, Z.
(1989). Thiazide-Induced Hyponatremia: Reproducibility by Single Dose Rechallenge and an Analysis of Pathogenesis. ANN INTERN MED
110: 24-30
[Abstract]
SOLOMON, D. H., JUDD, H. L., SIER, H. C., RUBENSTEIN, L. Z., MORLEY, J. E.
(1988). New Issues in Geriatric Care. ANN INTERN MED
108: 718-732
[Abstract]
Yamamoto, T., Harada, H., Fukuyama, J., Hayashi, T., Mori, I.
(1988). Impaired Arginine-Vasopressin Secretion Associated With Hypoangiotensinemia in Hypernatremic Dehydrated Elderly Patients. JAMA
259: 1039-1042
[Abstract]
BECK, L. H., LAVIZZO-MOUREY, R.
(1987). Geriatric Hyponatremia. ANN INTERN MED
107: 768-769
[Abstract]
SNYDER, N. A., FEIGAL, D. W., ARIEFF, A. I.
(1987). Hypernatremia in Elderly Patients: A Heterogeneous, Morbid, and Iatrogenic Entity. ANN INTERN MED
107: 309-319
[Abstract]
Wachtel, T. J., Silliman, R. A., Lamberton, P.
(1987). Predisposing Factors for the Diabetic Hyperosmolar State. Arch Intern Med
147: 499-501
[Abstract]
Yamamoto, T., Shimizu, M., Morioka, M., Kitano, M., Wakabayashi, H., Aizawa, N.
(1986). Role of Angiotensin II in the Pathogenesis of Hyperdipsia in Chronic Renal Failure. JAMA
256: 604-608
[Abstract]
Raskind, M. A., Peskind, i. R., Lampe, T. H., Risse, S. C., Taborsky, G. J. Jr, Dorsa, D.
(1986). Cerebrospinal Fluid Vasopressin, Oxytocin, sopressin, Oxytoc in Alzheimer's Diseas{beta}-Endorphin. Arch Gen Psychiatry
43: 382-388
[Abstract]