Age-Associated Abnormalities of Water Homeostasis

Abstract

Deficits in renal function, thirst, and responses to osmotic and volume stimulation have been repeatedly demonstrated in older populations. The lessons learned over the past six decades serve to emphasize the fragile nature of water balance characteristic of aging. Older individuals are at increased risk for disturbances of water homeostasis due to both intrinsic disease and iatrogenic causes. These disturbances have real-life clinical implications in terms of neurocognitive effects, falls, hospital readmission and need for long-term care, incidence of bone fracture, osteoporosis, and mortality.

Keywords: Aging; Arginine vasopressin; Diabetes insipidus; Hypernatremia; Hyponatremia; Osmolality; SIAD; Thirst.