~
=
10
Dental Survey.
Intra-oral examinations were
a
conducted as part of the physical examination. All- -
patients were examined with mouthegirror and |
explorer. [tamination was by standard operating
ip
Table }
Age Distribution in Rongeigphdul Population, 1959,
Used ii n Aging Study
light. Salivary fH was taken by use.ofpHydrion —
a2”
Unexposed
Tae die
physical examination group; and a number of
children at Uurik.
‘s
Studies of Aging Criteria
- M
20-24
0
30-34
3
40-44
45-49
30-4.
55-59
4
]
l
2
25~29
35-39
cence in the exposed group compared with the un-
exposed population living on the sameisland.
However, the data (presented in a later section on
results) coHected during the 1959 survey (5 years
after exposure) showed no apparent differences
between the exposed and unexposed groups.
Therefore the data from the two groups have been
pooled with the objectives of presenting the methodology, indicating the trend of changes with age
of the various aging criteria chosen, and attempting
to determinea biological age score for individuals
and different age groups.
This study was hampered by the small number
of people involved and the lack of vital! statistics on
the Marshallese people. Anotherdifficulty has
been the uncertainty of exact ages in some cases,
particularly in older people.
Data on agingcriteria were recorded only on
adults 20 years of age and over. Of the 126 adults,
42 were in the originally exposed group and84 in
the larger comparison population. Table | shows
the age and sex distribution. The ages were reasonably well distributed except for a smaller number
of older people (>60 years of age).
The age criteria chosen were based on changes
generally believed to be associated with physiological senescence andrepresent only a small number
of the possible ones. They were selected witha
| RESrcwroeees
0
65-69
70-74
75-79
0
1
0
-
NE
2
F+=
5
F
l
6
1
12
4
4
2
3
2
0
0
I
6
12
6
21
4
13
3
13
3
3
3
l
15
6
i]
7
2
0
~ OQ-
3
0
0
5
3
1
1. R&S
Agee
pee
Total
6
2
5
3
5
0
2
1°
eT
oa ges
cx M
2”
= =
3
0
14
5
126
¥
“ah,
t
>80
i
criteria of possible age changes for use“‘daringknor
mal physical examination. Therefore the over-all
objective of this study was to establish tests to
evaluate any possible radiation-induced senes-
i
60-64
Although the exposed group has shownnooutward evidence-vagrbleby gross observation of any
accelerated‘aging effect of radiation,.it was
thought desirable tachave available mcasurable
2
4
made. Intra-oral radiograms were not available.
Dental examinations were carried outonthefollowing groups: 30 children at Majuro; all the
aduits and children at Rongelap who were in the
Age, vr
cf
other foodstuff:Saliva samplesWere collected from
these patients at the time pH determinations were
view toward ease of assessment during routine
physical examination underfield conditions, time
limitations, and language barrier. Therefore, unfortunately, tests of vigor and functional capacity
were necessarily limited.*
Of the 15 criteria selected, 9 were measured
directly and 4 were estimated on a 0 through ++
scale. Five tests involved the integument: (1) skin
looseness. (2) skin elasticity (retraction time), (3)
senile changesin the skin, (4) greying of the hair,
and (5) baldness. Four tests involved the special
sense organs: {1) accommodation, (2) visual acuity,
(3) arcus senilis, and (4) hearing. The cardiovascular system was tested by (1) systolic and (2)
diastolic blood pressure recordings, (3) peripheral
arteriosclerosis, and (4) retinal arteriosclerosis.
There was one test of neuromuscular function.
Vigor was measured by handstrength measurements. The test methodsare described below.
integument. A special skin caliper was designed for measuring skin looseness andelasticity
(Figure 8). The legs of the caliper can be opened
to any desired degree up to 5 cm onscale A byadjusting screw &. The spring tension whenthecaliper is closed on a fold of skin results in a pressure
of about 500 g. The inner andouter surfaces of the
legs are calibrated in millimeter markings (C’).
*Several tests, such as pulse and blood pressure response to a
two-step test and vital capacity, were tried but not used because
they proved unsatisfactory.