The effect of advanced aging on adrenal hormone levels on sexual dimorphism

Ageing and adrenal function have attracted a lot of attention recently. The plasma levels of cortisol, De-hydropiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEAsulfate (DHEAS), and the molar ratio of cortisol/DHEAS in 50 years to 80 years old community-dwelling people are examined in this crosssectional research. In samples collected between 7:30 hours to 11:00 hours from 857 males and 735 postmenopausal women who did not use steroid hormones, plasma hormone levels were measured. ANOVA with two factors (gender and age) was used to compare hormone levels in 10- year age groups. Overall, women had 40% lower levels of DHEA and DHEAS (collectively DHEA(S)) and 10% higher levels of cortisol than males, resulting in a 1.7-fold higher cortisol/DHEAS molar ratio for women (both, P , 0.001). With age, both men and women's cortisol levels gradually increased (20% overall) (both, P, 0.01). While both men and women saw a 60% reduction in DHEA(S) levels and a 3-fold increase in the cortisol/DHEAS ratio over the course of the 40-year age span (all P, 0.001), the patterns of the changes varied (all P, 0.01 for interaction). With each passing decade, the amount of change in DHEA(S) for males decreased in a curvilinear pattern. In contrast, DHEA(S) levels in women fell 40% from the 50s to 60s, were unvarying from 60 years to 80 years of age, and declined an additional 18% in the 80s. The cortisol/ DHEAS ratio increased in a linear fashion for men, but was flat during 60 years to 80 years of age range for women. Despite these differences in the effect of aging, levels of DHEA(S) remained lower and cortisol and the cortisol/DHEAS ratio higher, in women than men throughout the 50 years to 89-years age range. These results were independent of adiposity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. In conclusion, DHEA(S) levels are lower and cortisol levels are greater in women than in males among older, healthy people. Although it remains into advanced age in both men and women, the sexually dimorphic pattern of the age-related fall in adrenal androgens is present. Cortisol levels, however, exhibit a comparable, linear rise with age in both men and women. These findings may have significant ramifications for a variety of age-related processes that display gender variations, such as cardiovascular disease, bone metabolism, and brain function.