Key result
Aging was associated with a significant decrease in sweat gland density on both the hand and foot, with lower normal limits in the foot dropping from 213/cm2 (<30 years) to 123/cm2 (>59 years).
Why the study?
Does aging reduce sweat gland density in healthy subjects?
Cross-Sectional (n=196)
Does aging reduce sweat gland density in healthy subjects?
Aging is associated with a significant reduction in sweat gland density, establishing age-specific normal limits for sudomotor function testing.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support age-specific sudomotor norms; leaves open prospective validation before clinical adoption.
Many studies have reported the influence of aging on different portions of the autonomic nervous system components but only partially for the sympathetic cholinergic system. We evaluated postganglionic sudomotor function in 196 healthy subjects, 104 women and 92 men, by determining sweat gland density (SGD) per square centimeter of skin, on the dorsum of the hand and foot, with the impression mold technique. The age range was from 5 to 84 years. A significant decrease of SGD was observed in both hand and foot in relation to age (P < 0.001). The ANOVA analysis of foot data shows that age is the only significant factor for SGD reduction. In the hand, both sex and body surface area are significant covariates with age. The dorsum of the foot is the most appropriate place to examine sweating in studies of aging. The lower normal limits for SGD in the foot are 213/cm2 for subjects younger than 30 years, 199/cm2 for those from 30 to 59 years, and 123/cm2 for subjects over 59 years old.
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Ferrer et al. (1995) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy subjects (n=196). Aging was associated with a significant decrease in sweat gland density on both the hand and foot, with lower normal limits in the foot dropping from 213/cm2 (<30 years) to 123/cm2 (>59 years).
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