Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı-ANKARA The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ and exerts a powerful regulatory effect on many organs and system via melatonin which is the best-known pineal hormone. Like the functions of many organs, that of the pineal gland regreses with advancing age. This degeneration is most obviously reflected in the gradual reduction of the melatonin level and loss of the melatonin from the blood and tissue leading to age-related changes such as the psychosomatic disorders, neoplastic diseases, immune supression and infections. In this brief paper, the pineal with aging process and changes in the circadian melatonin rhythm in mammals is summarized. Keywords :