45

Correlation of Data.

each light as it appeared. The total time necessary
to extinguish all the lights was measured. Thistest

In order to placeall the

data on a commonbasis for comparison and combination, the data were converted to a percentage

involved both manual dexterity and mental reaction time’? (see Figure 33). (4) Hand Strength. The

basis for each criterion. In the case of the measured data, values associated with least aging were
taken as 0% (sometimes the highest reading, as
with handstrength; sometimes the lowest, as with

spring tension of the hand grip was measured in
kilograms with a Smedly hand dynamometer.*

The maximunrsqueezestrength in the dominant

handin 3 tries was recorded.
Miscellaneous Tests. (1) Body Potassium Levels

hearing loss), and conversely the values showing

(*°K). Since loss of muscle mass occurs with aging
and total body potassium is closely related to
muscle mass, it has been shownthat bodylevels of
potassium decrease with age.’*:"* Whole-body
spectrographic analyses were carried out in the
Marshallese in a lead-shielded structure. In this
way “°K levels were obtained and presented as
K/kg body weight. The accuracy of these data
could have been improved by obtaining moreprecise determinationsof lean body mass, such as by

measurement of body water."* The valueslisted
are averages of the 1961 and 1965 determinations.

(2) Blood Serum Cholesterol Levels, These were ob-

tained in 1957 onsera sent to the United States.**
*S.H. Stoelting Co., Chicago,Ill.

**The analyses were done at the National Institutes of Health

by Dr. J.H. Bragdon and Mr. J.C. Lauter.

most aging were taken as 100%. The estimated cri-

teria with values of 0, 1+,2+,3+,and4+ were
presented as 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%, respectively.
The data were examined on an individua! basis as

well as on a population basis, and comparisons

were madelargely by using means for each decade

age group. Except where indicated, the data used
were collected during the |1- and 12-year survevs,
An analysis of variance was used to determine

differences amongthefactors of sex, age, and radiation levels.* These data were programmed and
analyzed on a high speed digital computer. ** For
each criterion, the combined score over sex and

radiation level was correlated with age. A curve of

*Mr. Keith Thompson of Brookhaven National Laboratorv
did the statistical analyses of these data.
**The Control Data Corporation 6600, at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Table 22

Correlation of Criteria With Age and Radiation Exposure
Correlation
with age

Correlation with radiation

(r value)

Percent

Grayness
Arcussenilis
Accommodation
Skin retraction
Skin looseness
Vibratory sense (M + F)

0.87
0.83
0.81
0.74
0.70
0.70**

+17.0
0.0
—14.1
+ 7.3
+ 1.6
— 1.4(M), + 24.6(F)

Hearing loss

0.67

+ 7.9

Visual acuity

0.69

Hand grip (M+F)
Reaction time (M + F) (light extinction test)
Systolic blood pressure
Potassium (M + F)
Cholesterol
Neuromuscularfunction (M + F) (handtally)
Combined scoret
*N.S. — not significant at 5% level.

Significance* ( p)

+ 14.0

0.67**
0.64**
0.55
0.41**
0.39
0.36**

+13.8(M),
— 2.0(M),
—1i5
—14.6(M),
—17.2
+ 3.2(M),

0.99

+ 7.0

**r values for males and females averaged.

+ 13.8(F)
—10.5(F)
+ 10.6(F)
+ 1L.1(F)

N.S.
N.S.
NLS.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.

(0.70)
(1.00)
(0.11)
(0.68)
(0.82)
(0.90, 0.20)

N.S. (0.59)

N.S. (0.40)

N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.

(0.15, 0
(0.88, 0.55)
(0.30)
(0.17, 0.22)
(0.05)
(0.85, 0.95)

N.S. (0.27)
tWeighted according to 7 value.

Select target paragraph3