Jamie M. Zeitzer This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Brigham and Women's Hospital - General and Visitor Information

   www.brighamandwomens.org/publi - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/7/2000   Last Visited: 7/6/2002

   "It is simply not true that the pineal gland acts as an aging clock, winding down its production of melatonin with age," said Jamie M. Zeitzer, PhD, a BWH post-doctoral fellow and lead-author of the study.
   
   Researchers studied 34 healthy older people, both men and women ranging in age from 65 to 81, and compared their melatonin levels with a group of 101 healthy, younger men. Unlike most of the previous studies on this subject, the researchers verified that the subjects were not only healthy, but also non-users of common drugs that suppress melatonin, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and beta-blockers. Study participants also were medication-free and did not have insomnia or other sleep complaints. They had to forego alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine and were also asked to keep a sleep journal.
   
   As part of their participation in the study, each person spent three days and three nights isolated under carefully controlled conditions in a BWH sleep laboratory.