ABSTRACT
In the present chapter, aging of the thyroid gland and its possible consequences on the whole organism and on specific functions such as basal metabolism and thermoregulation are considered first. As in the case of other neuroendocrine systems (Chapters 10 to 12), the thyroid will be examined within the framework of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis. Second, changes with
aging of the parathyroids and of the thyroid C-cells secreting calcitonin are included by virtue of their intimate anatomic association with the thyroid gland. Third, included in this chapter is a discussion of the aging of the pineal gland and its role as a photoneuroendocrine transducer, a synchronizer of the sleep-wake and night-day cycles, and as a possible contributor to those homeostatic networks that regulate the life span.
