title: The analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentration in elderly age women depending on coexisting disease states.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was evaluation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) serum concentration in elderly women and determining interdependence between DHEA-S levels and occurrence of diseases typical for this period of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 103 elderly women (mean age 70.7 +/- 7.3 years). The control group consisted of 25 young and healthy women (mean age 33.5 +/- 1.7 years). The elderly patients were fully functional, well nourished, and only periodically required medical care due to chronic illnesses such as coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression. DHEA-S serum concentration was determined by Spectria DHEA(S) RIA radioimmunological kit. Statistically significantly important decrease of DHEA-S serum concentration was determined in elderly women compared with the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean blood serum DHEA-S concentration in elderly group was significantly lower compared to controls. Mean blood serum DHEA-S concentration was statistically significantly lower in the group of patients suffering from coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression. Statistically significantly lower DHEA-S concentration was observed in patients with benign disorders of cognitive functions and depression compared with patients with correct MMSE and GDS results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In elderly women DHEA-S concentration can turn out to be useful aging biomarker. Concentration of this hormone significantly decreases together with age, especially with coexisting diseases typical for this period of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Collegium Medicum of Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland. kasiakor@interia.pl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kedziora-Kornatowska
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beszczyńska-Oleś
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kornatowski
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szadujkis-Szadurski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate