DHEA

DHEA (Dehydroepiandosterone) is our most abundant hormone. When we are twenty years old we have the most we will ever have, at forty we have half that amount, and at eighty we are in single digits. The aging process is inextricably tied to a decrease in beneficial hormones, such as growth hormone, testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, thyroid, melatonin, and DHEA - and a increase in hormones whose elevated levels are clearly harmful, such as insulin and cortisol.

The dramatic drop in DHEA levels observed during aging parallels the development of degenerative syndromes such as immunosenescence,(decline of the immune system), atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, depressed mood and increased risk of cancer. The elderly suffer from a decline in DHEA secretion and a rise in cortisol. Those with very low levels of DHEA and higher levels of cortisol are most likely to suffer from dementia. The neuroprotective (brain protective) effects of DHEA may be the most important anti-aging benefit, since ultimately there is nothing as important as slowing down the aging of the brain.