Hormones are substances found in the bloodstream produced from an organ or gland. They control the body’s development, overall growth, sexual characteristics, weight, reproduction and more. Organs that are responsible for most of your body’s hormone production include the thyroid, parathyroid, hypothalamus, hypophysis, adrenals, ovaries, and testicles. They influence all sorts of bodily functions, including the use and storage of energy, controlling the body’s liquids, regulating salt and sugar in the blood, and much more.

These same hormones also influence aging. Most important, as hormone levels decrease, we begin showing more signs of age…protein loss, muscle loss, osteoporosis and fat increase. At around 45 years of age, hormone levels from our primary hormone-producing organs decreases dramatically. For example, the adrenal hormones (DHEA decrease of up to 40%), hypophysis (decrease of 50%) the pineal (melantonine decrease of up to 40%) and the sexuals glands (testosterone decrease 25% and estrogen decrease of 50% at menopause).

As we age, the pancreas produces less insulin, which makes us more vulnerable to diabetes and weight gain. The parathyroid produces less calcium and phosphate, leaving our bones weaker with increased risk of osteoporosis. One of the few hormones that increases with age, a hormone called cortisol, causes a decline in the immune system and brain function and increases body fat by 30%. It’s called the stress hormone.

So there you have it, a quick overview of the importance of hormones to the aging process and a good preview of how we might slow the aging process through their augmentation.