Endogenous Levels of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, but Not Other Sex Hormones, Are Associated with Depressed Mood in Older Women: The Rancho Bernardo Study

Abstract

These results add to the evidence that DHEA/S is a neuroactive steroid and point to the need for careful long-term clinical trials of DHEA therapy in older women with depressed mood.

Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy

“…There is a positive correlation between reduced serum DHEAS levels and lower bone mineral density in the spine, hip and radius in women aged 45±69 years (11), but no such effect is noted in men (12). In the central nervous system, lower DHEAS levels are associated with depressed mood in older women but not men (13), and a higher cortisol/ DHEA ratio correlates with cognitive decline in both sexes (14). There are con¯icting reports of lower DHEAS levels in Alzheimer's disease (15,16).…”

DHEA Lessens Depressive-Like Behavior via GABA-ergic Modulation of the Mesolimbic System

“…Depressed patients have lower levels of plasma DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) (Barrett-Connor et al, 1999;Goodyer et al, 1998) and of saliva DHEA (Fabian et al, 2001;Takebayashi et al, 1998) than controls. Moreover, lower saliva DHEA levels in the morning correlate negatively with the severity of depression (Michael et al, 2000).…”

Lower serum DHEAS levels are associated with a higher degree of physical disability and depressive symptoms in middle-aged to older African American women

“…Some of these associations are somewhat modified by ethnicity (Santoro & Crawford, personal communication, March 2006) and deserve closer scrutiny. Barrett-Conner et al reported that serum DHEAS level but not that of any other sex steroid was associated with depressed mood in older women [5].…”