AN ATTEMPT TO QUANTIFY SOME CLINICAL CRITERIA OF AGING

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960 · Journal of Gerontology (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/15.4.358· OSTI ID:4089905

Conard, R A

In order to study possible premature aging effects of radiation in the people of Rongelap in the Marshall Islands, a series of measurable criteria generally associated with aging were recorded during the 1959 annual medical survey (5-year postexposure) on 42 people who had been exposed to radiation and 84 unexposed Marshallese. The criteria were chosen on the basis of ease of assessment under field conditions considering time limitation and language barrier. Some criteria were assessed on obsevation by scoring on a 0 through 4+ and percentage basis (senile skin changes, graying of hair, baldness, arcus senilis, peripheral arteriosclerosis, retinal arteriosclerosis), The other criteria were measured directly and also expressed on a percentage basis (skin looseness, skin elasticity, accommodation of the eyes, visual acuity, hearing by audiometry, blood pressure, neuromuscular function, and hand strength). A skin caliper used for measuring skin looseness and elasticity was de scribed. Since no differences were readily apparent between the exposed and unexposed people, the data were pooled and presented at this time to describe the methodology, trend of criteria changes with age, and attempt to assess biological age. Curves of the plotted data drawn by eye shohwed varying degrees of age-associated change with different criteria. The measured criteria were generally best correlated with age, particularly accommodation of the eyes, visual acuity, skin elasticity, and hand strength, although some of the observational criteria, such as arcus serilis and graying of the hair, seemed also to be fairly well correlated. A plot of the average percentage scores for individuals by age (biological age score) showed generally increasing scores with ages and less scatter than was noted with individual criteria. It is hoped that this approach may prove helpful in assessing aging in human beings and may offer a clue to possible radiation- induced aging. (auth)

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-15-010726
• OSTI ID: 4089905
• Report Number(s): BNL-4835; 0022-1422
• Journal Information: Journal of Gerontology (U.S.), Journal Name: Journal of Gerontology (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 15; ISSN JOGEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AGING
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD VESSELS
DISEASES
ELASTICITY
EYES
HAIR
MAN
MEDICINE
MUSCLES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
POPULATIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
SKIN