Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede der Endokrinologie im Alter

Gender-specific differences in age-associated endocrinology

  • Beiträge zum Themenschwerpunkt
  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Zusammenfassung

Das endokrine System ist untrennbar in die Regulation von körperlichen Veränderungen im Alterungsprozess und damit verbundenen Veränderungen der Lebensqualität involviert. In Anbetracht der steigenden Zunahme der älteren Population in der westlichen Welt ist die Offenlegung der hormonalen Mechanismen im Altersgang von höchstem Interesse. Endokrinologische Veränderungen im Alter umfassen die Abnahme von basalen Hormonspiegeln und der pulsatilen Hormonausschüttung sowie der Stimulierbarkeit der Hormonachsen. Folglich ändert sich auch die Körperzusammensetzung. Männer und Frauen zeigen unterschiedliche Muster in den altersabhängigen Veränderungen der Hormonachsen auf. Altern an sich ist ein Risikofaktor für endokrinologische Erkrankungen, wie Diabetes mellitus Typ 2, Schilddrüsenerkrankungen und Osteoporose, sowie für die Symptomkomplexe Sarkopenie und Frailty. Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede in Symptomen, Wechselwirkungen, Diagnostik und Therapien sind hierbei zu berücksichtigen. Bisherige Studien zur Hormonsubstitution erlauben weder für Männer noch für Frauen allgemeine Empfehlungen. Aufgrund der Multimorbidität der hochaltrigen Patientenpopulation erfordern neue Forschungsansätze einen multifaktoriellen Zugang.

Abstract

The endocrine system is intimately involved in modulating lifespan and quality of life. Facing an ever increasing proportion of aged people in the western society, there is great interest in understanding the complex interrelations between increasing age and hormonal regulation. Age-associated endocrinological changes comprise the decline of basal hormonal levels, pulsatile hormone distribution, and activity of hormonal axis, which result in changes in body composition. Men and women experience different age-associated alterations of the hormonal system. Aging per se is a risk factor for diseases like diabetes mellitus type 2, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, frailty, and sarcopenia. Gender-specific differences with respect to symptoms, interactions, diagnosis, and therapy must be taken into consideration. Current data do not allow a general recommendation for hormonal substitution, neither for women nor for men. New research approaches following a multifactorial pathway are required to elucidate the complexity of age-associated endocrinological changes and to develop gender-specific therapies for endocrinological diseases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Abb. 1
Abb. 2

Literatur

  1. Araujo AB, Wittert GA (2011) Endocrinology of the aging male. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 25(2):303–319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Becherer A, Buchinger W, Gallowitsch HJ et al (2011) Schilddrüsen Konsens Bundesfachgruppe Nuklearmedizin: Schilddrüse im Alter. http://www.hormon.org/epidemiologie/Schilddruese-Konsens-im-Alter-2011.pdf. Zugegriffen:???

  3. Bellino FL (2006) Advances in endocrinology of aging research, 2005–2006. Exp Gerontol 41(12):1228–1233

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bollheimer C, Büttner R (2011) Endokrinologie im Alter. Aktuelle Schnittstellen zwischen Endokrinologie und Geriatrie. Endokrinologie Information (§§§bitte präzisieren§§§)

  5. Cappola AR, Xue QL, Walston JD et al (2006) DHEA levels and mortality in disabled women: the Women’s Health and Aging Study I. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 61(9):957–962

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cappola AR, Xue QL, Fried LP (2009) Multiple hormonal deficiencies in anabolic hormones are found in frail older women: the Women’s Health and Aging Studies. J Gerontol 64(2):243–248

    Google Scholar 

  7. Castel H, Shahar D, Harman-Boehm I (2006) Gender differences in factors associated with nutritional status of older medical patients 25(2):128–134

  8. Chen M, Bergman RN, Pacini G, Porte D Jr (1985) Pathogenesis-related glucose intolerance in man: insulin resistance and decreased β-cell function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 60:13–20

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen M, Bergman RN, Porte D (1988) Insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in aging: the importance of dietary carbohydrate. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 67:951–957

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Feldman HA, Longcope C, Derby CA et al (2002) Age trends in the level of serum testosterone and other hormones in middle-aged men: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts male aging study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87(2):589–598

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Flicker L, McCaul KA, Hankey GJ et al (2010) Body mass index and survival in men and women aged 70 to 75. J Am Geriatr Soc 58(2):234–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gong Z, Muzumdar RH (2012) Pancreatic function, type 2 diabetes and metabolism in the aging. Int J Endocrinol (E-pub ahead of print)

  13. Hengst K, Gellner R (2005) Endokrinologie, Gastroenterologie, Schilddrüse im Alter. In: Handbuch Geriatrie. Deutsche Krankenhaus Verlagsges mbH, Düsseldorf, S 209–226

  14. Houmard A, Weidner MD, Dolan PL (1995) Skeletal muscle GLUT4 protein concentration and aging in humans. Diabetes 44(5):555–560

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kautzky-Willer A, Brazzale A, Moro E et al (2012) Influence of increasing BMI on insulin sensitivity and secretion in normotolerant men and women of a wide age span. Obesity 20(10):1966–1973

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kotani K, Tokunaga K, Fujiokaetal S (1994) Sexual dimorphism of age-related changes in whole-body fat distribution in the obese. Int J Obesity 18(4):207–212

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kreatsoulas C, Anand SS (2013) Menopausal hormone therapy for the primary prevention of chronic conditions. Pol Arch Med Wewn 123(3):112–117

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Licastro G, Candore D (2005) Innate immunity and inflammation in ageing: a key for understanding age-related diseases. Immun Ageing 2:8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Maedler K, Schumann DM, Schulthess F et al (2006) Aging correlates with decreased β-cell proliferative capacity and enhanced sensitivity to apoptosis: a potential role for Fas and pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1. Diabetes 55(9):2455–2462

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Maggio M, Lauretani F, Ceda GP et al (2007) Relationship between low levels of anabolic hormones and 6-year mortality. The aging in the Chianti Area (InCHIANTI) study. Arch Intern Med 167:2249–2254

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Montero-Odasso M, Duque G (2005) Vitamin D in the aging musculoskeletal system: an authentic strength preserving hormone. Mol Aspects Med 26(3):203–219

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Murton AJ, Greenhaff PL (2009) Muscle atrophy in immobilization and senescence in humans. Curr Opin Neurol 22(5):500–505

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Nafziger AN, Bowlin SJ, Jenkins PL, Pearson TA (1998) Longitudinal changes in dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations in men and women (1998). J Lab Clin Med 131:316–323

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Neal-Perry G, Nejat E, Dicken C (2010) The neuroendocrine physiology of female reproductive aging: an update. Maturitas 67(1):34–38

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ohtsubo K, Takamatsu S, Minowa MT et al (2005) Dietary and genetic control of glucose transporter 2 glycosylation promotes insulin secretion in suppressing diabetes. Cell 127(2):1307–1321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Roubenoff R, Hughes VA (2000) Sarcopenia: current concepts. J Gerontol 55(12):716–724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Rudman D, Kutner MH, Rogers CM et al (1981) Impaired growth hormone secretion in the adult population. Relation to age and adiposity. J Clin Invest 67(5):1361–1369

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ryall JG, Schertzer JD, Lynch GS (2008) Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying age-related skeletal muscle wasting and weakness. Biogerontology 9(4):213–228

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Shaw ND, Srouji SS, Histed SN et al (2009) Aging attenuates the pituitary response to gonadotropin- releasing hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94(9):3259–3264

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Short KR, Vittone JL, Bigelow ML et al (2004) Age and aerobic exercise training effects on whole body and muscle protein metabolism. Am J Physiol 286(1):92–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Soules MR, Sherman S, Parrott E et al (2001) Executive summary: Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW). Fertil Steril 76:874–878

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Tan ZS, Beiser A, Vasan RS et al (2008) Thyroid dysfunction and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: the Framingham Study. Arch Intern Med 168(14):1514–1520

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Thorner MO (2010) Endocrinology of aging: the convergence of reductionist science with systems biology and integrative medicine. Front Endocrinol 1:1

    Google Scholar 

  34. Trivedi DP, Khaw KT (2001) Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and mortality in elderly men and women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86(9):4171–4177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Veldhius JD (2008) Aging and hormones of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis: gonadotropic axis in men and somatotropic axis in men and women. Ageing Res Rev 189–208

Download references

Interessenkonflikt

Die korrespondierende Autorin gibt für sich und ihre Koautorin an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinische Abteilung für Endokrinologie und Stoffwechsel, Gender Medicine Unit, Innere Medizin III, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090, Wien, Österreich

    M.K. Leitner M.Sc. &  A. Kautzky-Willer

Authors
  1. M.K. Leitner M.Sc.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Kautzky-Willer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Kautzky-Willer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leitner, M., Kautzky-Willer, A. Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede der Endokrinologie im Alter. Z Gerontol Geriat 46, 505–510 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-013-0512-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-013-0512-x

Schlüsselwörter

Keywords

Search

Navigation