DHEA Supplements

While cortisol levels stay the same or even increase as we age, levels of another vitally important hormone, DHEA, decrease with each passing year. This relationship between cortisol and DHEA has led some to suggest that these adrenal hormones may play a significant role in the aging process and its associated negative health effects.

A recent paper in the European Journal of Endocrinology examined age-related changes in the HPA axis. The authors showed that the cortisol-to-DHEA ratio increases significantly as people age and is even higher in elderly patients who suffer from dementia. Supplemental DHEA, however, enhances the brain's resistance to stress-mediated changes, maintains functional abilities, and protects against age-related diseases. The authors concluded, "The changes of the hormonal balance [between cortisol and DHEA] occurring in aging may contribute to the onset and progression of the aging-associated neurogenerative diseases." Recommended dosage: 25-50 mg per day.

Any hormone supplementation should be monitored by your physician; it is best to consult your physician before adding supplemental DHEA to your regimen to make sure that it is right for you.