The results were the first to conclusively demonstrate a longitudinal decline in testosterone with aging, indicating a need for patient evaluation and possible treatment.
Male hormones diminish with age.
Dr. Morley and his colleagues followed 77 men between the ages of 61 to 87 over a 14-year period as part of the New Mexico Aging Process Study. With the decline of testosterone, researchers noted that related hormones were thrown off balance. They believe that this may be caused by the inability of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to adjust hormone production in response to the decrease in testosterone. As a result, the shift in male hormones suggests that men could experience detrimental changes such as decreased upper-body strength, a reduced number of red blood cells and altered bone metabolism. In order to prevent health problems related to testosterone decline, Dr. Morley developed a new self-screening device, the A.D.A.M. questionnaire.