title: FRAR course on laboratory approaches to aging. "Orphan" phenotypes in gerontological research.
abstract: It is argued that, in addition to investigations of life span parameters, a large number of biomedically important phenotypes can be profitably studied from a gerontological perspective. These would include "private" patterns of aging, especially in our own species, which exhibits extraordinary genetic heterogeneity. These, as well as a number of relatively common age-associated phenotypes, have been comparatively neglected by the gerontological community, and therefore warrant the designation as "orphan" phenotypes. From a tabulation of examples from each of the major body systems, five are elaborated upon: "hyperhippocampals," defined as individuals with intrinsically enhanced functional reserve in relevant neural circuitry; patients with a heterogeneous set of pathologies collectively referred to as "normal pressure hydrocephalus"; patients with late life activation of herpes zoster; individuals with unusually early onset of loss of olfactory function; and geriatric subjects with unusual sensitivity to "jet lag."
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000209:etiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D010641:Phenotype; D012106:Research; D014195:Travel