Do your hormones influence how quickly you age?
Hormones do influence ageing, but do not control it entirely. Fat distribution, muscle mass and inflammatory processes are all linked to hormonal changes that can be monitored and, to some extent, addressed.
Hormones are one factor that shapes how your body ages, but the relationship is nuanced. The menopause in women is a clear example: as oestrogen falls, fat shifts towards the abdomen. That abdominal fat in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The menopause does not cause weight gain as such, but the distribution of fat does change in a demonstrable way.
Testosterone, growth hormone and IGF-1 (a growth-promoting hormone) also decline with age. This makes it harder for muscles to synthesise proteins, so muscle mass and muscle strength gradually decrease. This is called sarcopenia. In the youngest group of older women, almost 9 percent are clinically meaningfully affected; in the oldest men that figure rises to almost 18 percent. Sarcopenia increases the risk of falls, bone loss and insulin resistance. In addition to the hormonal decline, low-grade inflammatory processes also play a role, although the precise contribution of each has not yet been fully established.
Growth hormone occupies a special position. In animals, high growth hormone levels lead to a shorter lifespan. In people with a congenital deficiency of or resistance to growth hormone, the risk of typical age-related diseases is indeed reduced, but the lifespan itself does not appear to be longer as a result. It therefore seems that growth hormone influences the number of years spent in good health more than it influences total lifespan. Furthermore, abdominal fat can suppress the production of growth hormone, while lower growth hormone in turn promotes greater fat storage: a potentially self-reinforcing cycle.
In centenarians, researchers sometimes observe slightly reduced thyroid hormone levels. The thinking is that a somewhat slower metabolism limits oxidative damage and thereby slows ageing. But in sick individuals, lower thyroid values are a sign of deterioration. This association has not yet been proven in randomised research; no recommendations can currently be based on it.
Metformin, a drug that improves insulin sensitivity and is used in diabetes, produces striking figures in a large summary of studies: diabetics who used it had 7 percent lower mortality than non-diabetics, and 28 percent lower mortality than diabetics on other treatments. Whether metformin also slows the ageing process in healthy people is currently being investigated, but has not yet been proven. Researchers caution that the figures found may partly be explained by selection effects.
All claims are based on reviews and observational studies (PMID 22978257, 15462613, 11283518, 33001358, 9434053, 28286215, 28802803). None of the findings are based on large randomised intervention trials specifically targeting ageing as an outcome.
Do male hormones affect how quickly men age?
Declining testosterone measurably accelerates ageing of muscles, bones and sexual function, but the links to mood and skin are far less certain. Testosterone supplementation can relieve some symptoms, but always discuss the risk profile with your doctor before starting.
How does your body fat affect hormone production as you get older?
Body fat has a considerable influence on your hormonal balance as you age: more abdominal fat disrupts insulin sensitivity, and conversely, lower oestrogen or testosterone levels worsen fat accumulation around the abdomen. Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are the most concrete levers you have within your own control.
Is there a link between your hormones and the risk of dementia later in life?
What does the stress hormone cortisol do to my ageing?
Chronically elevated cortisol accelerates muscle loss and disrupts your metabolism, and that effect is real. Good sleep and limiting chronic stress are the most concrete tools for keeping it in check.
Does hormone therapy help women age more healthily?
Hormone therapy relieves menopausal symptoms well and shows positive indications for bones and metabolism, but the effects on the heart and brain are uncertain and highly individual. Whether it is worthwhile for you depends strongly on your symptoms, timing and health history: discuss it with your doctor.
Can hormones explain why women live longer on average than men?
Sex hormones likely contribute to women's longer lifespan, but they do not fully explain the difference. Social factors also play a role, and the hormonal protection has a clear downside after the menopause.