Steroid secretion in healthy aging

Fiacco, Serena; Walther, Andreas; Ehlert, Ulrike

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.09.035

Cited by 48 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 236 publications

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“…In general, the literature on age-related hormone alterations in men reports a decrease in sex hormones, with the exception of E2, and an increase in glucocorticoid levels is also well documented (Fiacco et al, 2018). Our findings support this, showing a decrease in T, an increase in C, and stable E2 levels (Lacker et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Steroid hormones show distinct trajectories of stability, decrease or increase throughout the aging process. With regard to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, the primary male sex steroid T significantly decreases with age, whereas estradiol (E2) shows stability or a slight decline (Vermeulen et al, 2002;Fiacco et al, 2018). For example, the effect size of the T decrease has been shown to be r = 0.46 in an influential population-based study with 1156 individuals (Feldman et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Relation Between Steroid Secretion Patterns and the Androgen Receptor Gene Polymorphism on Physical Health and Psychological Well-Being—Longitudinal Findings From the Men’s Health 40+ Study

Lacker

Walther

Fiacco

et al. 2020

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Research is increasingly focusing on promoting healthy aging and the related extension of the health span by targeting crucial biological processes responsible for age-related conditions. While age-related gradual changes in steroid hormones such as testosterone, estradiol, or cortisol are well described in men, their interactions among each other or with genetic markers have not been sufficiently investigated with regard to physical health or psychological well-being. More specifically, the examination of age-related alterations in hormone interactions and the androgen receptor polymorphism, which modulates androgen action on target cells, in relation to physical health and psychological well-being represents a promising avenue for research on healthy aging in men. A total of 97 healthy aging men provided complete data on psychometric health measures as well as hormonal and genetic parameters at baseline and a 4-year follow-up assessment. Fasting saliva samples were taken at 8:00 am under standardized laboratory conditions, while the androgen receptor gene polymorphism was analyzed from dried blood spots. Longitudinal analyses revealed that psychological well-being and physical health remained stable over time. Analyses indicated that E2 moderated the course of psychological well-being, while the androgen receptor gene polymorphism moderated the course of physical health. Further, T was a strong predictor of physical health. These results suggest that the hypothalamic-pituitarygonadal (HPG) axis might be important for the maintenance of psychological well-being in men, while physical health depends more on interindividual differences in the androgen receptor gene and T.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relation Between Steroid Secretion Patterns and the Androgen Receptor Gene Polymorphism on Physical Health and Psychological Well-Being—Longitudinal Findings From the Men’s Health 40+ Study

Lacker

Walther

Fiacco

et al. 2020

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Likewise, a recent clinical study found decreased testosterone levels in both men and women with major depression compared to healthy participants (Asadikaram et al, 2019). Although most studies agree that low testosterone levels in men are related to depression (Ford et al, 2016;Kische et al, 2018;Zarrouf, Artz, Griffith, Sirbu, & Kommor, 2009), findings for women are inconsistent (Kische et al, 2018;Milman, Sammel, Barnhart, Freeman, & Dokras, 2015) and appear to depend on the woman's reproductive stage (Fiacco, Walther, & Ehlert, 2019). In women in transition to menopause, it has been observed that high testosterone levels may be related to MDD (Bromberger & Epperson, 2018); whereas in young women, no differences are observed in testos-terone levels between depressed patients and healthy controls (Matsuzaka et al, 2013) or both high and low levels are reported in young women with depression (Walther, Wasielewska, & Leiter, 2019;Weber, Lewicka, Deuschle, Colla, & Heuser, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Evaluation of hormonal and metabolic factors related to depression in reproductive age women

et al. 2020

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Introduction. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent disease affecting women more than men worldwide. Various factors are involved in the genesis of depression, including hormones such as testosterone and certain metabolic factors Objective. To evaluate hormone levels and metabolic variables in women with major depression and healthy controls. Method. A cross-sectional, comparative analytical study was conducted in 40 participants, 23 patients with an MDD diagnosis and 17 controls, all of women in reproductive age between the ages of 18 and 45. Sociodemographic variables, hormonal profile, and metabolic variables were assessed and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale was used to evaluate depressive symptoms. Results. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in the hormonal and metabolic variables explored. Nevertheless, it was observed that the lower the testosterone levels and the higher the serum glucose levels, the more intense depressive symptoms were. Discussion and conclusion. Testosterone is associated with a lower depressive symptoms score on the Hamilton Depression scale, suggesting a potential antidepressant effect, whereas high glucose levels are associated with a higher score on this scale. We believe that the measurement of hormonal and metabolic variables in women can contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of depression.

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“…In utero T exposure in men might therefore be further investigated with regard to its effect on stress-related disorders such as depressive disorders. Attempts to formulate a male-specific pathophysiology for affective disorders are emerging, which integrate in utero and postnatal testosterone's organizational effects (Walther, Penz, Ijacic, & Rice, 2017;Walther, Rice, Kufert, & Ehlert, 2017) as well as the effect of testosterone in adulthood (Fiacco, Walther, & Ehlert, 2018;Walther, Breidenstein, & Miller, 2018).…”

Section: Lower 2d4d and Affectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between digit ratio (2D4D), mood, and autonomic stress response in healthy men

et al. 2019

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The ratio between the length of the second (index) and the fourth (ring) finger (2D4D) is a putative biomarker of prenatal testosterone (T) exposure, with higher exposure leading to a smaller ratio. 2D4D has further been linked to mental and somatic disorders. Healthy male Swiss recruits (N = 245; Mage = 20.30 years) underwent a psychosocial stress test. Mood and salivary alpha‐amylase (sAA) were assessed before and after the stress test, while heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured continuously. Additionally, 2D4D (right: R2D4D; left: L2D4D) was determined and divided into quartile groups. Correlation analysis showed no associations between R/L2D4D and outcome measures. Comparing calculated quartiles for R2D4D, subjects in the lowest R2D4D quartile expressed trendwise (p < 0.10) lower positive and higher negative affect, significantly elevated sAA activity (p < 0.05), but no HR and HRV differences at baseline as compared to subjects in the upper three quartiles. With regard to acute stress, subjects in the lowest as compared to subjects in the upper three R2D4D quartiles showed a higher increase of negative affect and a stronger cardiac response (p < 0.05), but no alterations in positive affect and sAA activity. Young healthy men in the lowest R2D4D quartile revealed a more negative affect and increased physiological activity at baseline and in response to acute stress. An exposure to high levels of prenatal T might constitute a risk factor potentially increasing vulnerability to stress‐related disorders in men.

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Steroid secretion in healthy aging

Cited by 48 publications

References 236 publications

The Relation Between Steroid Secretion Patterns and the Androgen Receptor Gene Polymorphism on Physical Health and Psychological Well-Being—Longitudinal Findings From the Men’s Health 40+ Study

The Relation Between Steroid Secretion Patterns and the Androgen Receptor Gene Polymorphism on Physical Health and Psychological Well-Being—Longitudinal Findings From the Men’s Health 40+ Study

Evaluation of hormonal and metabolic factors related to depression in reproductive age women

Associations between digit ratio (2D4D), mood, and autonomic stress response in healthy men

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