Testosterone decline 'result, not cause, of ageing'

A decline in the testosterone levels of older men, who may use home care, is likely to be the result of deteriorating health rather than the cause, research has shown.

Men over the age of 40 who had self-reported excellent health had their blood testosterone levels tested by researchers from the ANZAC Research Institute at the University of Sydney.

While obesity was found to mildly lower testosterone levels, age had no effect, according to the findings to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.

Principal investigator David Handelsman explained: "The modest decline in blood testosterone among older men, usually coupled with nonspecific symptoms, such as easy fatigue and low sexual desire, may be due to symptomatic disorders that accumulate during aging, including obesity and heart disease."

In other news, post-menopausal women who underwent testosterone therapy were found to have improved memory, according to research which will also be presented at the meeting.

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