Abstract
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-pituitary-gonadal (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.
Highlights
Research is increasingly focusing on promoting healthy aging and the associated extension of the health span by targeting crucial biological processes responsible for age-related health conditions (Barzilai et al, 2018)
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
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
Summary
Research is increasingly focusing on promoting healthy aging and the associated extension of the health span by targeting crucial biological processes responsible for age-related health conditions (Barzilai et al, 2018). Healthy aging can be defined as the ‘‘process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age’’ Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the last 150 years, rising even more sharply in the last few decades (World Health Organization, 2015a). Due to a slower increase in birth rates, the world population is facing a growing proportion of older individuals (Beard et al, 2016). Living the gained years of life in good health is a prioritized aim for each individual, and for society in general, in order to reduce the large economic burden of chronic diseases in the elderly (Beard and Bloom, 2015; World Health Organization, 2017). It is crucial to investigate biological influences (e.g., hormone secretion and genetic markers) on physical health and well-being, comprising both physical and psychological aspects
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