Plasma gonadotropins were measured in 126 postmenopausal women (age range 69–90 years) admitted to a geriatric ward. After clinical examination, patients were classified as ‘acutely or severely ill’ or as ‘not ill’. Plasma gonadotropins were compared between both groups. Logistic regression was used to select clinical and/or biochemical parameters which differentiated patients with abnormal, low gonadotropins from patients with high gonadotropin concentrations. Plasma gonadotropins were significantly lower in the ‘acutely or severely ill’ than in the ‘healthy’ patient group. By logistic regression, blood sedimentation rate, total protein concentration, and serum thyrotropin concentration were significantly correlated with low gonadotropins. Linear regression analysis showed a significant linear relationship between plasma gonadotropins and age (at least for ages over 80 years), blood sedimentation rate (at values more than 65 mm) and total protein concentration. Marked suppression of plasma gonadotropins was frequently found to occur in acutely ill postmenopausal women, in relation to biochemical parameters of acute illness such as blood sedimentation rate, total protein concentration, and serum thyrotropin. In addition, ageing per se seems characterized by a progressive attenuation of the high postmenopausal gonadotropin levels.

Background: Hypoglycemia, especially at old age, can lead to several major problems, such as falls and cognitive deficits. The aim of our study was to detect hypoglycemia in older persons with and without diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM).Methods: The frequency and duration of hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia was studied in ambulatory geriatric (>75 years), non-diabetic persons (Group 1, n=10), using real time Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM, Dexcom G6), and in age- and sex-matched cognitively-healthy, T2DM patients having HbA1c levels < 9.0% (Group 2, n=10). The device was used during 20 days per person, who was blinded for the values on the receiver (except in case of severe hypo- or hyperglycemia). Data were stored for further analysis on the Dexcom Clarity Portal.Results: Hypoglycemia occurred frequently in older persons without T2DM, despite absence of hypoglycemia-inducing medication. In this group, people had 0.50% (median value) of the time glycemic values below 70 mg/dL, most of the episodes happened during nighttime. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that hypoglycemia occurs frequently in non-diabetic older persons. Further studies are needed to determine whether this could be part of the normal aging process, and to determine if hypoglycemia might contribute to cognitive deterioration.