New horizons in testosterone and the ageing male

The fall in testosterone levels with age appears to be a real phenomenon. Declining testicular function and hypothalamic dysregulation appear to be the mechanisms explaining the fall in testosterone levels with age. The increased prevalence of obesity and chronic illness in ageing men both cause a l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Age and ageing 2015-03, Vol.44 (2), p.188-195
Main Authors: Ahern, Tomás, Wu, Frederick C W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age of Onset
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Aging (Biology)
Aging - blood
Clinical trials
Elderly
Endocrine therapy
Frail Elderly
Frailty
Health aspects
Health Status
Hormone Replacement Therapy - adverse effects
Humans
Hypogonadism
Hypogonadism - blood
Hypogonadism - diagnosis
Hypogonadism - drug therapy
Hypogonadism - epidemiology
Male
Mens health
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Recovery of Function
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Testosterone
Testosterone - adverse effects
Testosterone - blood
Testosterone - deficiency
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:The fall in testosterone levels with age appears to be a real phenomenon. Declining testicular function and hypothalamic dysregulation appear to be the mechanisms explaining the fall in testosterone levels with age. The increased prevalence of obesity and chronic illness in ageing men both cause a large drop in testosterone levels independent of ageing. Age-related hypogonadism appears to be different to other 'classical' causes of hypogonadism. Testosterone levels are not unequivocally low and associated symptoms are non-specific. In frail older men with low testosterone levels, testosterone therapy appears to improve QOL and physical function. In less frail men, however, effects of testosterone therapy in the ageing male are small and/or inconsistent. There remains an urgent need for randomised clinical trials with sufficient size, duration and power to determine specific benefits and risks of testosterone therapy in older men.
ISSN:0002-0729
1468-2834
DOI:10.1093/ageing/afv007