Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Salivary Glands and the Aging Process: Mechanistic Aspects, Health-Status and Medicinal-Efficacy Monitoring

  • Published:
Biogerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Xerostomia is a major complaint of many elderly individuals, and although they seek medical help, it usually provides no adequate relief. This complaint is considered a major clinical problem, since not less than 25% to 50%-60% of the population over the age of 65 complain of xerostomia. By definition, Xerostomia is a subjective feeling and in up to one-third of the cases does not reflect a real reduction in salivary flow rate but rather the subjective feeling of a dry mouth. Moreover, only a minute portion of the patients suffer from xerostomia with a known aetiology such as radiotherapy or Sjögren's syndrome, while in the majority of the cases, the aetiology is assumed to be related to age, disease, various medications and drugs or is simply idiopathic. The current review focuses on age-related histological, sialometrical and sialochemical changes and on the possible mechanisms which underlie these changes. Finally, directions for further exploring the subject are suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguirre A, Levine MH, Cohen RE and Tabak LA (1987) Immunochemical Quantitation of a-Amylase and Secretory IgA In parotid saliva from people of various ages. Arch Oral Biol 32: 297–301

    Google Scholar 

  • Akimoto T, Kumai Y, Akama T, Hayashi E, Murakami H, Soma R, Kuno S and Kono I (2003) Effects of 12 months of exercise training on salivary secretory IgA levels in elderly subjects

  • Allweiss P, Braunstein GD, Katz A, et al. (1984) Sialadenitis following I-131 therapy for thyroid carcinoma: concise communication. J Nucl Med 25: 755–758

    Google Scholar 

  • Almstahl A and Wikstorm M (2003) Electrolytes in stimulated whole saliva in individuals with hyposalivation of different origins. Arch Oral Biol 48(5): 337–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson JC and Fox PC (1992) Salivary gland dysfunction. Clin Geriatr Med 8: 499–511

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson JC and Wu A (1994) Salivary gland dysfunction: causes, symptoms, treatment. J Am Dent Acssoc 14: 33–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum B (1981) Evaluation of stimulated parotid saliva flow rate in different age groups. J Dent Res 60(7): 1292–1296

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum BJ, Costa PT and Izutsu KT (1984) Sodium handling by aging human parotid glands is inconsistent with two-stage secretion model. Am J Physiol 246: R35–R39

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Aryeh H, Miron D, Szargel R and Gutman D (1984) Whole-saliva secretion rates in old and young healthy subjects. J Dent Res 63: 1147–1148

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Aryeh H, Miron D, Berdicevsky I, Szargel R and Gutman D (1985) Xerostomia in the elderly: prevalence, diagnosis, complications and treatment. Gerodontology 4: 77–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Aryeh H, Shalev A, Szargel R, Laor A, Laufer D and Gutman D (1986) The salivary flow rate and composition of whole and parotid resting and stimulated saliva in young and old healthy subjects. Biochem Med Metab Biol 36(2): 260–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergdahl M and Bergdahl J (2000) Low unstimulated salivary flow and subjective oral dryness: association with medication, anxiety, depression, and stress. J Dent Res 79: 1652–1658

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertram U (1967) Xerostomia. Clinical aspects, pathology and pathogenesis. Acta Odontol Scand 25 (Suppl 49:) 1–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Bounba D, Skopouli FN and Moutsopoulos HM (1995) Cytokine mRNA expression in the labial salivary gland tissues in patients with primary Sjörgen's syndrome. Br J Rheum 34: 326–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Bursch W, Obenhammer F, Jirtle RL, Askari M, Sedivy R, Grasl-Kraupp B, Purchio AF and Schulte-Hermann R (1993) Transforming growth factor 1 as a signal for induction of cell death by apoptosis. Br J Cancer 67: 531–536

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannon RD and Chaffin WL (1999) Oral colonization by Candida albicans. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med 10: 359–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Challacombe SJ, Percival RS and Marsh PD (1995) Age-related changes in immunoglobulin isotypes in whole and parotid saliva and serum in healthy individuals. Oral Micro Immunol 10: 202–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauncey HH, Borkan G, Wayler AW, Feller RP and Kapur KK (1981) Parotid composition in health aging males. Adv Physiol Sci 28: 323–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauncey HH, Feller RP and Kapur KK (1987) Longitudinal age-related changes in human parotid saliva composition. J Dent Res 66: 599–602

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaushu G, Itzkoviz-Chaushu S, Yefenof E, et al. (1995) A longitudinal follow-up of salivary secretion in bone marrow transplant patients. Oral Surg Radio Endo 79: 164–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawes C (1975) Circadian rhythms in the flow rate and composition of unstimulated and stimulated human submandibular saliva. J Physiol 244: 535–548

    Google Scholar 

  • de Wilde PC, Baak JPA, van Houwelingen JC, Kater L and Slootweg PJ (1986) Morphometric study of histological changes in sublabial salivary glands due to aging process. J Clin Pathol 39: 406–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Denny PC, Denny PA, Klauser DK, Hong SH, Navazesh M and Tabak LA (1991) Age-related changes in mucins from human whole saliva. J Dent Res 70: 1320–1327

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVita S, Dolcetti R, Ferraccioli G, de Re V, Carbone A and Bartoli E (1995) Local cytokine expression in the progression toward B-cell malignancy in Sjörgen's syndrome. J Rheum 22: 1674–1679

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobrosielski-Vergona K (1993) Age-related changes in the function of salivary glands. In: Dobrosielski-Vergona K (ed) Biology of the Salivary Glands, pp 431–433. Boca Raton, CRC press

    Google Scholar 

  • Drummond JR and Chisholm DM (1984) A qualitative and quantitative study of the aging human labial salivary glands. Arch Oral Biol 29: 151–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Eliasson L, Carlen A, Laine M and Bifkhed D (2003) Minor gland and whole saliva in postmenopausal women using a low potency oestrogen (oestriol). Arch Oral Biol 48(7): 511–517

    Google Scholar 

  • Elkon KB (1997) Apoptosis and autoimmunity. J Rheumatol 24: 6–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison PT, Bribiescas RG, Bentley GR, Campbell BC, Lipson SF, Panter-Brick C and Hill K (2002) Population variation in age-related decline in male salivary testosterone. Hum Reprod 17(12): 3251–3253

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson DB (1981) Physiological, pathological and pharmacological variations in salivary composition. Front Oral Physiol 3: 138–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Field EA, Longman LO, Bucknall R, et al. (1997) The establishment of a xerostomia clinic: a prospective study. Brit J Oral Max Surg 35: 96–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelstein MS, Tanner M and Freedman ML (1984) Salivary and serum IgA levels in geriatric outpatient population. J Clin Immunol 4: 85–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox PC, van der Ven PF, Sonnies BC, et al. (1985) Xerostomia: evaluation of a symptom with increasing significance. J Am Dent Assoc 110: 519–525

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox PC, Busch KA and Baum BJ (1987) Subjective reports of xerostomia and objective measures of salivary gland performance. J Am Dent Assoc 115: 581–584

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox RI, Kang H, Ando D, Abrams J and Pisa E (1994) Cytokine mRNA expression in salivary gland biopsies of Sjörgen's syndrome. J Immunol 152: 5532–5539

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandara BK, Izutsu KT, Truelove EL, Ensign WY and Sommers EE (1985) Age-related salivary flow rate changes in controls and patients with oral lichen planus. J Dent Res 64: 1149–1151

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghezzi EM and Ship JA (2003) Aging and secretory reserve capacity of major salivary glands. J Dent Res 82(10): 844–848

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson G and Barrett E (1992) The role of salivary function on oropharyngeal colonization. Spec Care Dent 12: 153–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooneratne NS, Metlay JP, Guo W, Pack FM, Kapoor S and Pack AI (2003) The validity and feasibility of saliva melatonin assessment in the elderly. J Pineal Res 34(2): 88–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Groenink J, Lightenberg AJM, Veerman ECI, Bolscher JGM and Nieuw Amerongen AV (1996) Interaction of the salivary low-molecular weight mucin (MG-2) with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Ant. Leeuwenhoek 104(4 (Pt 1)): 346–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutman D and Ben-Aryeh H (1974) The influence of age on salivary content and rate of flow. Int J Oral Surg 3(5): 314–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Heft MW and Baum BJ (1984) Unstimulated and stimulated parotid salivary flow rate in individuals of different ages. J dent Res 63: 1182–1185

    Google Scholar 

  • Heintze U, Bifkhed DM and Bjorn H (1983) Secretion rate and buffer effect of resting and stimulated whole saliva as a function of age and sex. Swed Dent J 7: 227–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter KD and Wilson WS (1995) The effects of antidepressant drugs on salivary flow and content of sodium and potassiom ions in human parotid saliva. Arch Oral Biol 40: 983–989

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikebe K, Sajima H, Kobayashi S, Hata K, Morii K, Nokubi T and Ettinger RL (2002) Association of salivary flow rate with oral function in a sample of community-dwelling older adults in Japan. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radio Endod 94(2): 184–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim SK (1987) Protein synthesis in salivary glands as related to aging. In: Ferguson DB (ed) The Aging Mouth, pp 96–110. Basel, Krager

    Google Scholar 

  • Locesche WJ, Bromberg J, Terpenning MS, et al. (1995) Xerostomia, xerogenic medications and food avoidances in selected geriatric groups. J Am Geriatr Soc 43: 401–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandel ID (1980) Sialochemistry in diseases and clinical situations affecting salivary glands. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 12: 321–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandel ID (1989) The role of saliva in maintaining oral homeostasis. J Am Dent Assoc 119: 298–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Meurman JH, Laine P, Keinanen S, et al. (1997a) Five-year follow-up of saliva in patients treated for lymphomas. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Path Oral Radiol Endo 83: 447–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Meurman KH, Laine P, Lindqvist C, et al. (1997b) Five-year follow-up study of saliva, mutants streptococci, lactobacilli and yeast counts in lymphoma patients. Oral Oncol 33: 439–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Meurman JH, Rantonen P, Pajukoshi H and Sulkava R (2002) Salivary albumin and other constituents and their relation to oral and general health in the elderly. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 94(4): 432–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagler RM and Hershkovich O (2004) Sialochemical and gustatory analyses in patients with oral sensorial complaints. J Pain 5: 56–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagler RM, Hershkovich O, Lischinsky S, Diamond E and Reznik AZ (2002) Saliva analysis in the clinical setting: revisiting an underused diagnostic tool. J Invest Med 50: 214–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Narhi TO (1994) Prevalence of subjective feelings of dry mouth in the elderly. J Dent Res 73: 20–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Navazesh M, Mulligan RS, Kipnis V, Denny PA and Denny PC (1992) Comparison of whole saliva flow rates and mucin concentrations in healthy caucasian young and aged adults. J Dent Res 71(6): 1275–1278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nederfors T (1996) Xerostomia: prevalence and pharmacotherapy. With special reference to beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. Swed Dent J Suppl 116: 1–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Nederfors T, Twetman S and Dahlof C (1989) Effects of the thiazide diuretic bendroflumethiazide on salivary flow rate and composition. Scan J Den Res 97: 520–527 231

    Google Scholar 

  • Nederfors T, Ericsson T, Twetman S, et al. ( 1994) Effects of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists atenolol and propranolol on human parotid and submandibular-sublingual salivary secretion. J Dent Res 73: 5–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Nederfors T, Dahlof C, Ericsson T, et al. (1995) Effects of the antihypertensive drug captopril on human salivary secretion rate and composition. Eur J Oral Sci 103: 351–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieuw Amerongen AV (1994) Soeeksel en mondgezondheid. VU Uitgeverij, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieuw Amerongen AV, Bolscher JGM and Weerman ECI (1995) Salivary mucin protective functions in relation to their heterogeneity. Glycobiol 5: 733–740

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa N, Dang H, Lazaridis K, Mcguff HS, Aufdemorte TB and Talal N (1995) Analysis of transforming growth factor beta and other cytokines in autoimmune exocrinopathy Sjörgen's syndrome. J Interferon Cytokine Res 15: 759–767

    Google Scholar 

  • Oxholm P, Daniels TE and Bendtzen K (1992) Cytokine expression in labial salivary glands from patients with primary Sjörgen's syndrome. Autoimmunity 12: 185–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Pajukoski H, Meurman JH, Snellman-Grohn S, et al. (1997) Salivary flow and composition in elderly patients referred to an acute care geriatric ward. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Path Oral Radiol Endo 84: 265–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Pajukoski H, Meurman JH, Halonen P and Sulkava R (2001) Prevalence of subjective dry mouth and burning mouth in hospitalized elderly patients and outpatients in relation to saliva, medication and systemic diseases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Emdod 92(6): 641–649

    Google Scholar 

  • Parvinen T (1984) Stimulated salivary flow rate in relation to size and sex. Proc Finn Dent Soc 89: 172–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Parvinen T and Laarmas M (1981) The relation of stimulated salivary flow rate and pH to Lactobacillus and yeast concentrations in saliva. J Dent Res 60: 1929–1935

    Google Scholar 

  • Parvinen T and Larmas M (1982) Age dependency of stimulated salivary flow rate, pH, and lactobacillus and yeast concentrations. J Dent Res 61(9): 1052–1055.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen W, Schubers M, Izutsu K, Mersai T and Truelove E (1985) Age-dependent decreases in human submandibular gland flow rates as measured under resting and post-stimulation conditions. J Dent Res 64: 922–925

    Google Scholar 

  • Percival RS, Challacombe SJ and March PD (1994) Flow rates of resting whole and stimulated parotid saliva in relation to age and gender. J Dent Res 73: 1416–1420

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkay AE, Levin SR, Johnson DG, Berg L and Hershman JM (1997) Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and transforming growth factor-b1 (TGF-b1) inhibit Na+/K+-ATPase in FRTL-5 thyroid cells. J Interferon Cytokine Res 17: 185–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayment SA, Liu B, Offner GD, et al. (2000) Immunoquantification of human salivary mucins MG1 and MG2 in stimulated whole saliva: factors influencing mucin levels. J Dent Res 79: 1765–1772

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodus N, Dahmer L, Lindemann K, Rudney J, Mathur A and Bereuter J (1998) SIgA and cytokine levels in whole saliva of Sjörgen's syndrome patients before and after oral pilocarpine hydrochloride administration: a pilot study. Clin Oral Invest 2: 191–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1975) Age, sex and contralateral differences in the volumes of human submandibular salivary glands. Arch Oral Biol 20: 885

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1977a) A morphometric study of age changes in the histology of the ducts of human submandibular glands. Arch Oral Biol 22: 243

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1977b) Degenerative changes in the histology of the human submandibular salivary gland occurring with age. J Biol Buccale 5(4): 311–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1977c) Quantitative age changes in the histological structure of human submandibular salivary glands. Arch Oral Biol 22: 221

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1979) The proportional volume of mucus acinar cells in normal human submandibular salivary glands. Arch Oral Biol 24: 479

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1980) Qualitative and quantitative observations on the histology of human labial salivary glands obtained post mortem. J Biol Buccale 8: 187–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1986) Structure and function in aging human salivary glands. Gerodontoloty 5: 149–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J (1987) Structural changes in salivary glands. Front Oral Physiol 6: 40–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott J, Flower Ea and Burns JA (1987) Quantitative study of histological changes in the human parotid gland occurring with adult age. J Oral Pathol 16(10): 505–510

    Google Scholar 

  • Shern RJ, Fox PC and Li SH (1993) Influence of age on the secretory rates of the human minot salivary glands and whole saliva. Arch Oral Biol 38: 755–761

    Google Scholar 

  • Ship JA and Baum BJ (1990) Is reduced salivary flow normal in old people? Lancet 336: 1507

    Google Scholar 

  • Ship JA, Nolan N and Puckett S (1995) Longitudinal analysis of parotid and submandibular salivary flow rates in healthy, different aged adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sco Med Sci 50A: M285–M289

    Google Scholar 

  • Ship JA and Fischer DJ (1997) The relationship between dehydration and parotid salivary gland function in young and older healthy adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 52A: M310–M319

    Google Scholar 

  • Ship JA, Pillemer SR and Baum BJ (2002) Xerostomia and The Geriatric Patient. J Am Geriatr Soc 50: 535–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Shugars DC, Watkins CA and Cowen HJ (2001) Salivary concentration of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor, and antimicrobial protein, is decreased with advanced age. Gerontology 47(5): 246–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith DJ, Joshipura K, Kent R and Taubman MA (1992) Effect of age in immunoglobulin content and volume of human labial gland saliva. J Dent Res 71: 1891–1894

    Google Scholar 

  • Sreebny LM and Schwartz SS (1997) A reference guide to drugs and dry mouth-2nd edition. Gerodontology 14: 33–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Streckfus CF, Wu AJ, Ship JA, et al. (1994a) Stimulated parotid gland salivary flow rates in normotensive, hypertensive and hydrochlorothiazide-medicated African Americans. J Oral Path Med 23: 280–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Streckfus CF, Wu AJ, Ship JA and Brown LJ (1994b) Comparison of stimulated parotid salivary gland flow rates in normotensive and hypertensive persons. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 77: 615–619

    Google Scholar 

  • Streckfus CF, Baur U, Brown U, Bacal C, Meter EI and Nick T (1998) The effects of estrogen status on salivary gland function. Int J Exp Clin Gerontol 44: 32–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Streckfus CF, Bigler L, Navazesh M and Al-Hashimi I (2000) Cytokine concentrations in stimulated whole saliva among 232 patients receiving varying doses of IFN-c symptomatic treatment of Sjörgen's syndrome: a preliminary study. Clin Oral Invest 5: 133–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Streckfus C, Bigler L and O'bryan T (2002) Aging and salivary cytokine concentrations as predictors of whole saliva flow rates among women: a preliminary study. Gerontology 48(5): 282–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrjanen S (1984) Age-related changes in structure of labial minor salivary glands. Age Aging 13: 156–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanida T, Ueta E, Tobiume A, Hamada R, Rao F and Osaki T (2001) Influence of aging on candidal growth and adhesion regulatory agents in saliva. J Oral Pathol Med 30(6): 328–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Terpenning M, Bretz W, Lopatin D, et al. (1993) Bacterial colonization of saliva and plaque in the elderly. Clin Infect Dis 16(Suppl 4): S314–S316

    Google Scholar 

  • Tylenda CA, Ship JA, Fox PC and Baum BJ (1998) Evaluation of submandibulary salivary flow rate in different age groups. J Dent Res 67: 1225–1228

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Putten GJ, Brand HS, Bots CP and van Nieuw Amerongen A (2003) Prevalence of xerostomia and hyposalivation in the nursing home and in relation with number of prescribed medication [article in Ducth]. Tijdscher Gerontol Geriatr 34(1): 30–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Reijden WA, Veerman ECI and Nieuw Amerongen AV (1993) Shear rate dependent viscoelastic behavior of human glandular salivas. Biorheol 30: 141–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Nieuw Amerongen A (1989) Salivary secretion and taste alterations in elderly subjects [article in Dutch]. Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd96(5): 193–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Veerman ECI, Lightenberg AJM, Schenkels LCPM, Walgreen-Weterns E and Nieuw Amerongen AV (1995) Binding of human high-molecular-weight salivary mucins (MG-1) to Hemophilus parainfluenzae. J Dent Res 74: 351–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Veerman ECI, van den Keybus PAM, Vissink A and Nieuw Amerongen AV (1996) Human glandular salivas: their separate collection and analysis. Eur J Oral Sci 70(1): 79–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Vissink A, van Nieuw Amerongen A, Wesseling H and 's-Gravenmade EJ (1992) Dedronge mond, De mogelijk oorzakelijke rol van geneesmiddelen. Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd 99: 103–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Vissink A, Spijkervet FK and Van Nieuw Amerongen A (1996) Aging and saliva: a review of the literature. Spec Care Dentist 16: 95–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Vissink A, Spijkervet FK and van Nieuw Amerongen A (1997) Changes in secretion and composition of saliva with aging [article in Dutch]. Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd 104(5): 186–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang CH and Woolfolk CA (1990) Salivary amylase activity of the aged. Gerontology 36: 193–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterhouse JP, Chisholm DM, Winter RB, Patel M and Yale RS (1972) Replacement of functional parenchymal cells by flat and connective tissue in human submandibular salivary glands: an age-related change. J Oral Pathol 2: 16–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Westermark A, Pyykko I, Magnusson M, Ishizaki H, Jantti P and van Setten G (2002) Basic fibroblast growth factor in human saliva decreases with aging. Laryngoscope 112(5): 887–889

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu AJ and Ship JA (1993) A characterization of major salivary gland flow rates in the presence of medications and systemic diseases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Path 76: 301–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu AJ, Atkinson JC, Fox PC, Baum BJ and Ship JA (1993) Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of stimulated parotid salivary constituents in health, different-aged subjects. J Gerontol 48: M219–M224

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu AJ, Baum BJ and Ship JA (1995) Extended stimulated parotid and submandibular secretion in a healthy young and old population. J Gerodontol 50(A): M45–M48

    Google Scholar 

  • Yaegaki K, Ogura R, Kameyama T and Sujaku C (1985) Biochemical diagnosis of reduced salivary gland function. Int J oral Surg 14: 47–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeh CK, Johhnson DA, Dodds MW, et al. (2000) Association of salivary flow rates with maximal bite force. J Dent Res 79: 1560–1565

    Google Scholar 

  • Younger H, Harrison T and Streckfus CF (1998) Relationship between stimulated whole, glandular salivary flow rates, and root caries prevalence in an elderly population. J Spec Care Dent 18: 156–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JN, Liu RY, Van Heerikhuize J, Hofman MA and Swaab DF (2003) Alterations in the circadian rhythm of salivary melatonin beginning during middle-age. J Pineal Res 34(1): 11–16

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. R.M. Nagler

    Present address: , 17 Yaara Street, 23840, Timrat, Israel

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Biochemistry Laboratory and Salivary Clinic, Rambam Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    R.M. Nagler

Authors
  1. R.M. Nagler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nagler, R. Salivary Glands and the Aging Process: Mechanistic Aspects, Health-Status and Medicinal-Efficacy Monitoring. Biogerontology 5, 223–233 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BGEN.0000038023.36727.50

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BGEN.0000038023.36727.50

Search

Navigation