Age-Related Decline of Free Testosterone Levels | Testosterone Levels

The medical community still does not understand the causes of the age-related decline in testosterone levels. Many believe pesticides and hormones in the meats we eat are probably at fault. It could be a number of things, including increased body fat, poor eating and exercise habits, oxidative damage and stress, an over taxed thyroid and adrenal glands, declining levels of precursors such as DHEA, or any number or combination of factors. There is no arguing about the results of the decline in this important hormone in both sexes.

Elevated Testosterone Level Reduces Depression

Low testosterone levels have been associated with depression and other psychological disorders for decades. In fact, depression was treated with testosterone injections in the 1950's before the drug companies began promoting anti-depressant drugs. Doctors will recommend testosterone supplementation for patients that take anti-depressants when they experience a lowered libido. New research is rediscovering that testosterone therapy will often eliminate the need for anti-depressants. "I experiences joy or giddiness when I first started using the natural testosterone gel my doctor prescribed and the compounding pharmacist made", was Bob R.'s experience of Marietta, GA.

Normal free testosterone levels can be achieved with injections and gels. Always use natural testosterone instead of the synthetic versions often offered.

Effects of Age-Related Decline in Testosterone Levels

Cognition and Mental Alertness

Men and women with low testosterone levels and men taking androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer score lower on psychometric tests. Low free testosterone levels or unbound testosterone have been linked to Alzheimer's. This prospective observational study is believed to be the first to associate low circulating blood levels of free testosterone with AD years before diagnosis. This Alzheimer's study appears in the journal Neurology.

Sexual Dysfunction and Libido

Research shows that age related declining levels of free testosterone reduce desire, pleasure and performance in sexual activity. All one needs to do to verify that testosterone is to get an injection of natural testosterone to know that it increases the desire for sex. Research now verifies that testosterone replacement therapy can improve sexual function.

In one study, the total testosterone levels of 53 older men with symptoms of low testosterone were compared to a control group of 40 younger men without symptoms. The study concluded that men with a diminished libido had a significant decrease in testosterone levels (mean 268 ng/dl) as compared with the control group (553 ng/dl).

Almost all of the low testosterone group who suffered from low testosterone reported a lack of energy, erectile dysfunction, a loss of pubic hair and a decrease in sexual endurance. From this data, the researchers concluded that low levels of testosterone are directly related to both advanced age and diminished sex drive.

There is also a strong link between low testosterone levels increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. You have metabolic syndrome if you have all the following:

  1. abdominal obesity
  2. high blood pressure
  3. insulin resistance
  4. lipid disorders

People with metabolic syndrome are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Testosterone replacement therapy (500 mg injections) was able to increase insulin sensitivity in a study of middle aged men with metabolic syndrome symptoms. Another study was conducted in which testosterone treatment required less insulin injections. Still other studies have shown that bone strength is increased when testosterone replacement therapy is used.

Is there a way to increase testosterone levels naturally? Yes.