title: Evaluation of neuroendocrine status in longevity.
abstract: It is well known that physiological changes in the neuroendocrine system may be related to the process of aging. To assess neuroendocrine status in aging humans we studied a group of 155 women including 78 extremely old women (centenarians) aged 100-115 years, 21 early elderly women aged 64-67 years, 21 postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years and 35 younger women aged 20-50 years. Plasma NPY, leptin, glucose, insulin and lipid profiles were evaluated, and serum concentrations of pituitary, adrenal and thyroid hormones were measured. Our data revealed several differences in the neuroendocrine and metabolic status of centenarians, compared with other age groups, including the lowest serum concentrations of leptin, insulin and T3, and the highest values for prolactin. We failed to find any significant differences in TSH and cortisol levels. On the other hand, LH and FSH levels were comparable with those in the elderly and postmenopausal groups, but they were significantly higher than in younger subjects. GH concentrations in centenarians were lower than in younger women. NPY values were highest in the elderly group and lowest in young subjects. We conclude that the neuroendocrine status in centenarians is markedly different from that found in early elderly or young women.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrinology Department, Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education, Marymoncka 99, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland. zncmkp@op.pl
authors.forename: Boguslawa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baranowska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolinska-Witort
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bik
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baranowska-Bik
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martynska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broczek
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mossakowska
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chmielowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides