Effects of aging on human skin innervation.
To understand the effect of aging on human skin innervation, we investigated intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density of skin biopsies. IENF densities of the distal leg were lower in elderly (> or = 60 years of age) than in young adults (19-39 years of age; 7.80 +/- 0.79 vs 13.55 +/- 0.85 fibers/mm, p < 0.01). A similar trend was also observed in the distal forearm (11.67 +/- 1.55 vs 19.39 +/- 1.60 fibers/ mm, p < 0.001). IENF densities were negatively correlated with age according to multiple linear regression analysis on the entire study population (age range: 19-78 years) with standardized coefficients of -0.462 (p < 0.001) in the distal leg and -0.335 (p = 0.005) in the distal forearm. These findings suggest a significant reduction in IENF densities with age.
Chang
Yang-Chyuan
YC
Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
Lin
Whei-Min
WM
Hsieh
Sung-Tsang
ST
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*