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The major hormone produced by the adrenal gland
is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The production of this hormone
declines with age, while at the same time there is an increase
in the incidence of major health problems such as cancer and heart
disease. Does this association indicate a role for DHEA in health
promotion? Medical textbooks do not report any conditions that
are treatable by DHEA, yet in the USA where DHEA is available
without prescription, millions of older Americans are using it
as a daily nutritional supplement.
The goal of Health Promotion and Aging is to describe what is
known about the role of reduced levels of DHEA in diseases of
old age. The research agenda of the US National Institute of Aging
is looked at, bringing into focus the areas where information
is still scarce. Following this, experts have reviewed and analyzed
information on the role of DHEA in modulation of fat and muscle,
bone damage, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, fertility,
and sexuality
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