Identification of Critical Thermal Environments for Aged Adults
Penn State University
Summary
This study evaluates critical environmental limits (temperature and humidity) above which older adults are unable to effectively thermoregulate. Participants will exercise in a series of different environmental conditions to identify combinations of temperature and humidity above which age-related physiological changes cause uncompensable heat stress, resulting in increased risk of heat illness.
Description
The earth's climate is warming well above historical averages, and there is an increased frequency, duration, and severity of heat waves. At the same time, the world's population is rapidly aging. Aging is associated with reductions in thermoregulatory capacity due to reductions in sweating and skin blood flow. For this reason, people ≥65 years exhibit exponentially larger increases in morbidity and mortality during heat waves than younger individuals, with the large majority of excess deaths during heat waves occurring in the elderly. Compounding the physiological effects of primary aging, c…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 and older (those 40+ years of age must be cleared by collaborating physician) * All premenopausal women will be eumenorrheic (by survey) * Asymptomatic and no signs/symptoms of disease according to the American College of Sports Medicine 10th edition Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription Exclusion Criteria: * Medications that affect thermoregulatory or cardiovascular responses to exercise * Any contraindications to low intensity physical activity on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire * Any mobility restrictions that interfere with l…
Interventions
- DrugLow dose ASA
A sub-group of older adults will be re-tested after 7 days of treatment with low-dose aspirin.
- OtherControl
All participants will be tested with no treatment.
Location
- Noll LaboratoryUniversity Park, Pennsylvania