Anorexia in the elderly.
Weight loss and anorexia occur commonly in the elderly. While in many cases the anorexia can be attributed to associated disease processes, it does appear that a true anorexia of aging exists. Animal studies have suggested that older rodents have an excessive satiety effect of cholecystokinin and a decreased opioid feeding drive. Other older persons develop anorexia in association with depression. In these subjects, excess corticotropin-releasing factor may be the neurotransmitter involved in the pathogenesis of the anorexia. In Alzheimer's disease, decreases in norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y may be involved in the anorexia seen in the these patients.
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D004435:Eating; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D012527:Satiation / Q000502:physiology; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology
D004723:Endorphins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents