The 'Multiple Home Deficiency' Theory of Aging

February 18, 2006

The " multiple hormone deficiency " theory of aging: is human

senescence caused mainly by multiple hormone deficiencies?

Hertoghe T.

University Centre of Charleroi, Belgium. thierry.hertoghe@....

In the human body, the productions, levels and cell receptors of most

hormones progressively decline with age, gradually putting the body

into various states of endocrine deficiency. The circadian cycles of

these hormones also change, sometimes profoundly, with time. In aging

individuals, the well-balanced endocrine system can fall into a

chaotic condition with losses, phase-advancements, phase delays,

unpredictable irregularities of nycthemeral hormone cycles, in

particular in very old or sick individuals. The desynchronization

makes hormone activities peak at the wrong times and become

inefficient, and in certain cases health threatening. The occurrence

of multiple hormone deficits and spilling through desynchronization

may constitute the major causes of human senescence, and they are

treatable causes. Several arguments can be put forward to support the

view that senescence is mainly a multiple hormone deficiency

syndrome: First, many if not most of the signs, symptoms and diseases

(including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, obesity, diabetes,

osteoporosis, dementia) of senescence are similar to physical

consequences of hormone deficiencies and may be caused by hormone

deficiencies. Second, most of the presumed causes of senescence such

as excessive free radical formation, glycation, cross-linking of

proteins, imbalanced apoptosis system, accumulation of waste

products, failure of repair systems, deficient immune system, may be

caused or favored by hormone deficiencies. Even genetic causes such

as limits to cell proliferation (such as the Hayflick limit of cell

division), poor gene polymorphisms, premature telomere shortening and

activation of possible genetic " dead programs " may have links with

hormone deficiencies, being either the consequence, the cause, or the

major favoring factor of hormone deficiencies. Third, well-dosed and -

balanced hormone supplements may slow down or stop the progression of

signs, symptoms, or diseases of senescence and may often reverse or

even cure them. If hormone deficiencies and imbalances are the major

causes of senescence, what then is the treatment? Crucial for the

treatment of senescent persons is to make a correct diagnosis by

making up an anamnesis of all symptoms related to hormone

disturbances, conducting a thorough physical examination, and getting

laboratory tests done such as serum and 24-hour urine analyses. The

physician should look not only for hormone deficiencies, including

the mildest ones, but also for any alterations in hormone circadian

cycles, and for the presence of any factors-nutritional, dietary,

behavioral, lifestyle, environmental (including illumination and

indoor, outdoor, or dietary pollutants)-that cause or aggravate

hormone deficiencies. After completion of the detailed diagnostic

phase and obtaining and analyzing the results of the tests, treatment

can start. In general, before supplying hormones, all other factors

that contribute to senescence should be eliminated. After that,

supplements of the missing hormones can then be administered,

carefully respecting an appropriate timing of their intake, and

eventually recommending measures such as lifestyle changes to restore

circadian rhythmicity.

PMID: 16399912

February 18, 2006

Hi folks:

A couple of corrections/additions:

The Subject line of the previous post should have

read: " The 'Multiple Hormone Deficiency' Theory of Aging " (!)

Second, the study was dated December 2005.

Rodney.

--- In , " Rodney " <perspect1111@...>

wrote:

>

> The " multiple hormone deficiency " theory of aging: is human

> senescence caused mainly by multiple hormone deficiencies?

>

> Hertoghe T.

>

> University Centre of Charleroi, Belgium. thierry.hertoghe@...

>

> In the human body, the productions, levels and cell receptors of

most

> hormones progressively decline with age, gradually putting the body

> into various states of endocrine deficiency. The circadian cycles

of

> these hormones also change, sometimes profoundly, with time. In

aging

> individuals, the well-balanced endocrine system can fall into a

> chaotic condition with losses, phase-advancements, phase delays,

> unpredictable irregularities of nycthemeral hormone cycles, in

> particular in very old or sick individuals. The desynchronization

> makes hormone activities peak at the wrong times and become

> inefficient, and in certain cases health threatening. The

occurrence

> of multiple hormone deficits and spilling through desynchronization

> may constitute the major causes of human senescence, and they are

> treatable causes. Several arguments can be put forward to support

the

> view that senescence is mainly a multiple hormone deficiency

> syndrome: First, many if not most of the signs, symptoms and

diseases

> (including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, obesity, diabetes,

> osteoporosis, dementia) of senescence are similar to physical

> consequences of hormone deficiencies and may be caused by hormone

> deficiencies. Second, most of the presumed causes of senescence

such

> as excessive free radical formation, glycation, cross-linking of

> proteins, imbalanced apoptosis system, accumulation of waste

> products, failure of repair systems, deficient immune system, may

be

> caused or favored by hormone deficiencies. Even genetic causes such

> as limits to cell proliferation (such as the Hayflick limit of cell

> division), poor gene polymorphisms, premature telomere shortening

and

> activation of possible genetic " dead programs " may have links with

> hormone deficiencies, being either the consequence, the cause, or

the

> major favoring factor of hormone deficiencies. Third, well-dosed

and -

> balanced hormone supplements may slow down or stop the progression

of

> signs, symptoms, or diseases of senescence and may often reverse or

> even cure them. If hormone deficiencies and imbalances are the

major

> causes of senescence, what then is the treatment? Crucial for the

> treatment of senescent persons is to make a correct diagnosis by

> making up an anamnesis of all symptoms related to hormone

> disturbances, conducting a thorough physical examination, and

getting

> laboratory tests done such as serum and 24-hour urine analyses. The

> physician should look not only for hormone deficiencies, including

> the mildest ones, but also for any alterations in hormone circadian

> cycles, and for the presence of any factors-nutritional, dietary,

> behavioral, lifestyle, environmental (including illumination and

> indoor, outdoor, or dietary pollutants)-that cause or aggravate

> hormone deficiencies. After completion of the detailed diagnostic

> phase and obtaining and analyzing the results of the tests,

treatment

> can start. In general, before supplying hormones, all other factors

> that contribute to senescence should be eliminated. After that,

> supplements of the missing hormones can then be administered,

> carefully respecting an appropriate timing of their intake, and

> eventually recommending measures such as lifestyle changes to

restore

> circadian rhythmicity.

>

> PMID: 16399912

>

February 18, 2006