The hormonal fountains of youth: myth or reality?
There has been a long search for the best approach of ensuring successful aging. The remarkable demographic transformations in this century have not only led to increased medical needs of older people, who often have multiple chronic conditions, decrements in functional ability and age-related disease, but also to the increase of social expenditures, such as pension funds and health insurance to support them. Therefore, it is no wonder that there is now a great endeavor to find a fountain of youth in both society and individuals. In this review each of the hormones that have been suggested to play a role in rejuvenating older persons, ie, the so-called "hormonal fountain of youth" is briefly discussed. Any hope of a fountain of youth to stop people from getting older, however, is a long way off, with science just beginning to understand the complex genetic, physical and hormonal causes of aging. An essential, but still unanswered question, is whether the age-related decline in hormone systems is physiological, perhaps conveying a benefit, or if the changes are pathological, causing harm. Modern research has, however, demonstrated that the concept of a "hormonal fountain of youth" is predominantly mythological.
Kim
M J
MJ
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Care Center, VA Medical Center, Missouri 63104, USA.
Morley
J E
JE
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009229:Mythology; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012060:Rejuvenation / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004967:Estrogens; D014807:Vitamin D; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011284:Pregnenolone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D008550:Melatonin