Changes in Autonomic Function with Age: A Study of Pupillary Kinetics in Healthy Young and Old People
Abstract
The object of the study was to compare resting pupil diameter in darkness and light, and the pupillary darkness and light reflexes between a group of young and elderly healthy subjects. Twelve young (eight men, four women; median age 19.5 years) and 14 elderly subjects (six men, eight women; median age 69 years) participated. Pupil diameter was monitored with an infra-red television pupillometer. Resting pupil size was measured in light (16 and 32 Cd m-2) and in darkness. The darkness reflex was elicited by switching off the ambient illumination (16 Cd m-2) for 1 s. The light reflex was elicited in darkness by short (200 ms) pulses of green (peak wavelength 565 nm) light at four ascending stimulus intensities (8.5 x 10(-3), 7.0 x 10(-2), 0.43 and 1.84 mW cm-2). The amplitude (mm) and maximum velocity (mm s-1) of the darkness reflex and the latency (ms), amplitude (mm), maximum constriction velocity (mm s-1) and 75% recovery time (s) of the light reflex were measured. The resting pupil diameter was found to be smaller in the elderly group at all three illumination levels (p = 0.001). The amplitude and maximum dilatation velocity of the darkness reflex were smaller for the elderly group (p = 0.001). The amplitude of the light reflex at the three highest light intensities and maximum constriction velocity at all light intensities were smaller in the elderly group (p = 0.002). Seventy-five per cent recovery time was longer in the elderly group (p = 0.02). There was no difference in the latency of the light reflex response between the two groups. The reduced pupil size, diminished darkness reflex amplitude and velocity, and prolonged recovery time of light reflex are consistent with sympathetic deficit in old age. Although the reductions in light reflex amplitude and constriction velocity in the elderly group at first sight would indicate a parasympathetic deficit in old age, they are more likely to be secondary to the grossly diminished pupil size.
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Pupil size in humans, both baseline and light-adapted, decreases with age.
“the pupil size (both the baseline and light-adapted pupil size) in humans decreases with age [45,46].”
From Are dark-eyed dogs favoured by humans? Domestication as a potential driver of iris colour difference between dogs and wolves (2023) · cites this paper as [46]
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“One possibility comes from that humans may estimate a person ’ s age based on pupil diameter since the pupil size (both the baseline and light-adapted pupil size) in humans decreases with age [45,46].”
Background
- Authors
- BITSIOS, P., PRETTYMAN, R., & SZABADI, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- SZABADI, E.
- Venue
- Age and Ageing
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1996
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 432-438
- ISSN
- 0002-0729 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-2834
- OpenAlex
- W2147799622
- Cited by
- 218
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Age and Ageing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- State Scholarships Foundation
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Keywords
- aging, autonomic function, light reflex, pupil size, pupillometry
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aging, Autonomic Nervous System, Dark Adaptation, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pulse, Reaction Time, Reference Values, Reflex, Pupillary, Geriatric Assessment
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