Effects of advanced aging on plasma catecholamine responses to the cold pressor test

Increased basal norepinephrine (NE) concentrations have been demonstrated r epeatedly in human aging, but these studies have included almost exclusivel y "early aging" subjects younger than age 75. We asked if "advanced aging" (over age 80) enhanced the effects of early aging on plasma NE and epinephr ine (EPI) concentrations at rest and in response to the cold presser test ( CPT). Eight medically well, cognitively intact advanced aging subjects (84. 4 +/- 0.9 years); 28 medically well cognitively intact early aging subjects (70.3 +/- 1.3 years), and 19 medically well young subjects (25.4 +/- 0.9 y ears) were studied. Both basal NE and the acute NE increase after CPT were significantly higher in advanced aging than in either early aging or young subjects. Plasma EPI concentrations were higher in the advanced aging group in the other groups and an acute plasma EPT increase after CPT occurred on ly in the advanced aging group. These results suggest specific effects of a dvanced aging on both the sympathoneural and sympathoadrenomedullary compon ents of the sympathetic nervous system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.