How does aging affect the body’s response to hormones?

While it was once popular to attribute the physiological changes of aging to a decline in endocrine function, it is now understood that endocrine function remains largely stable throughout the aging process, with some notable exceptions.12

Hormonal Changes and Sensitivity

Aging does not necessarily mean the body stops producing hormones; rather, the response to them can shift. For instance, while the pancreas in elderly individuals can produce as much insulin as that of a younger person under maximum stimulation, its sensitivity is reduced, requiring higher blood sugar levels to trigger a response. Similarly, while the thyroid gland continues to produce thyroxine effectively, there is evidence of reduced utilization of the hormone in body tissues.3

Notable Exceptions

• Reproductive Hormones: The most significant change is the abrupt decline in ovarian function at menopause. In men, testosterone levels decrease gradually, though this is often a slow physiological process rather than a sudden "male menopause".145
• Other Declines: There are documented age-related decreases in the production of growth hormone, melatonin, and DHEA.12

Importantly, there is no scientific evidence that administering these hormones can reverse or mitigate the biological process of aging.1