The nasal cycle and age

Abstract

Conclusion: The reciprocal nature of the nasal cycle declined with age in keeping with other published data, suggesting that studies of the nasal cycle may be a useful measure of central nervous system (CNS) disease and aging. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the nasal cycle with age. Methods: In one male subject changes in nasal airflow were measured by anterior rhinomanometry to determine the reciprocal nature of the ‘nasal cycle’ at age 28 and again at age 66 years. Results: Significant reciprocity was demonstrated in the historical study (age 28 years) with correlation coefficients for the 3 study days of –0.81, –0.83 and –0.79. compared with the current study (age 66 years) where non-significant correlation coefficients of 0.02 and –0.43 were obtained.

Keywords:

• Anterior rhinomanometry
• aging
• CNS disease
• nasal airflow
• autonomic nervous system
• sympathetic control
• reciprocal changes

Acknowledgments

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not an official position of the institution or funder. The RHINO-SYS Rhinometry System used for the current study was loaned free of charge from Happersberger otopront GmbH, Germany.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.