Electrolytes in the Aging

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Lynn Schlanger, Emory University; James L Bailey, Emory University; Jeff M Sands, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-07
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2010 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.ackd.2010.03.008
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease
• ISSN: 1548-5595
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 308
• End Page: 319
• Grant/Funding Information: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases : NIDDK
• Keywords: potassium; urea transporter; elderly; acidosis; aquaporins; hyponatremia; hypernatremia
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

The elderly population in the United States continues to grow and is expected to double by 2050. With aging there are degenerative changes in many organs and the kidney is no exception. After age forty there is an increase in cortical glomerulosclerosis and a decline in both glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow. These changes may be associated with an inability to excrete a concentrated or a dilute urine, ammonium, sodium, or potassium. Hypernatremia and hyponatremia are the most common electrolyte abnormalities found in the elderly and both are associated with a high mortality. Under normal conditions the elderly are able to maintain water and electrolyte balance but this may be jeopardized by an illness, a decline in cognitive ability, and with certain medications. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the potential electrolyte abnormalities in the elderly that can arise under these various conditions in order to prevent adverse outcomes.