Instrumental evidence that age increases motor instability in neuroleptic-treated patients
Article Abstract:
Neuroleptic medications are used to treat psychotic disorders and in the elderly, to control agitation and sometimes nausea. One side effect of this class of drugs is a motion disorder known as tardive dyskinesia (TD). A symptom of TD is decreased hand force steadiness, but this can also occur with advanced age. Whether there is greater impairment of hand force steadiness in older patients treated with neuroleptics was the subject of the present study. Subjects were 40 patients ranging in age from 23 to 80 years old who were being treated with neuroleptics but showed no evidence of TD, and 43 age-matched controls who were not being treated. The subjects' ability to maintain steady force with their fingers was tested for 30 seconds. Results highlighted a main effect of age by group, such that patients over the age of 45 had significantly greater force instability than patients under the age of 45. Controls over the age of 45 did not differ from younger controls; exposure to neuroleptics increased force instability in the older age group only. Support is therefore lent to the hypothesis that aging psychiatric patients are increasingly sensitive to neuroleptic medications. Advanced age is the most important risk factor for the development of neuroleptic-induced TD. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
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The effect of age on the synthesis of two heat shock proteins in the HSP70 family
Article Abstract:
The synthesis of two members of the heat shock protein (HSP) 70 family, hsc70 and hsp70, before and after mild heat shock is assessed. Hepatocytes isolated from young adult and old rats did not synthesize detectable amounts of hsp70 after incubation at 37 degrees centigrade. On the other hand, incubation at 42.5 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes induced the synthesis of hsp70 and hsc70. Hepatocytes from old rats had lower rates of hsp70 synthesis than the young adult rats. Synthesis of hsc70 did not change between the two rat groups. Thus, rat hepatocytes have decreased ability to synthsize hsp70 with aging.
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1993
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