Endocrinology & Metabolism of Aging

Growth hormone is important for growth in children and adolescents. However, in older adults, having less growth hormone is associated with protection against dementia, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Expanding epidemiologic and genetic evidence from groups with exceptional longevity indicates that genes that reduce growth hormone may also contribute to healthy aging and longevity. This evidence has led to preclinical trials of newly developed and repurposed therapeutics that diminish growth hormone signaling, with the potential to delay aging and age-related diseases in people.

Menopause is a universally occurring phenomenon in aging women. In men, a similar phenomenon occurs, characterized by diminished ability of testes to produce testosterone. However, men experience testicular dysfunction in their late 80s, 30-40 years later then the occurrence of menopause in women. It is primarily a characteristic of men with exceptional longevity, who live past age 90. Interestingly, in this group of men, low testosterone is not associated with poorer health and does not increase the risk of death. Einstein researchers are studying men with exceptional longevity to better understand the role of low testosterone in aging.

The hypothalamus is a very small area of the brain that controls hormones and metabolism of the entire body. Studies in animals have shown that changes in the hypothalamus that develop with aging may accelerate aging of the whole brain and body. Using MRI, our team studies the role of the hypothalamus in aging in older adults.