DHEAs: Sex Hormone Precursor as Biomarker of Aging

Abstract

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAs) is the major prohormone mostly secreted from the adrenal gland. DHEAs is precursor for synthesis for the steroid hormones relating to body growth and sexual maturity including androgen and estrogen. Changing of DHEAs level has been shown to associate with risk of testosterone deficiency syndrome in men, cardiac diseases, Alzheimer‘s diseases, and cognitive impairment (dementia). The level of DHEAs in circulating blood and urine is highest in the adulthood before gradually declining with progressive aging at a rate of 1-2% per year until 90 years of age. Age-related declining of DHEAs level is a useful and reliable monitoring approach in following the rate of aging. DHEAs is considered a hormone marker of aging and its level can be used to assess the risk of diseases associating with age. DHEAs is also used in hormone therapies for anti-aging, reduction of the accumulation of visceral fat, enhancement of the immune system, prevention of cancer, and promotion of effective memory and mood.