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The Ionic Hypothesis of Aging

Role of Intracellular Ions in the Development of Hypertension and Insulin Resistance

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Recent Advances in Geriatrics

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Abstract

The clinical association of essential hypertension with metabolic abnormalities, such as hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, obesity, altered glucose tolerance and/or frank non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) has long been appreciated(1). Each of the above clinical conditions is extremely frequent in the elderly. The association of these different clinical states, that is also common at younger ages, has been termed “Syndrome X” and more recently “Generalized Cardiovascular-Metabolic Disease.”(2,3) Although several hypothesis have been proposed, including a primary role of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, the mechanism(s) of this linkage has not been established. This syndrome complex is frequently associated with target organ involvement, such as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and atherosclerosis of the coronary and peripheral vascular beds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 141, 90144, Palermo, Italy

    Mario Barbagallo, Lilia Granvillano & Maria Adele Alessi

  2. Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy

    Ligia J. Dominguez, Anna Licata & Giuseppe Licata

  3. Division of Endocrinology, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA

    Lawrence M. Resnick

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  1. Mario Barbagallo
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  2. Ligia J. Dominguez
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  3. Anna Licata
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  4. Lilia Granvillano
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  5. Maria Adele Alessi
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  6. Giuseppe Licata
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  7. Lawrence M. Resnick
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Mario Barbagallo  & Giuseppe Licata  & 

  2. School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    James R. Sowers

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Barbagallo, M. et al. (1998). The Ionic Hypothesis of Aging. In: Barbagallo, M., Licata, G., Sowers, J.R. (eds) Recent Advances in Geriatrics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1483-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1483-5_4

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