DHEA, or dihydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands, which sit atop the kidneys and secrete a variety of hormones, including adrenalin. Interest in DHEA is related to the fact that its levels peak in the body between the ages of 20 and 30 and then decrease progressively with age, which has led some researchers to believe it may be related to senile dementias such as Alzheimer's disease. Low DHEA blood levels seem to be diagnostic of Alzheimer's, although supplementation with the hormone does not appear to improve symptoms.
DHEA
DHEA is important because it is the precursor to sex hormones. DHEA is converted into testosterone or estrogen in cells, depending on gender, age and many other health factors. DHEA has an effect opposite that of corticosteroid hormones, such as cortisol, which are produced in the adrenals in response to stress. An imbalance in the production of stress hormones is thought to be a major factor in the reduced production of DHEA beginning around the age of 30, which contributes to the biochemistry of aging and cellular deterioration, as explained in "Human Biochemistry and Disease." Supplemental DHEA is made from plant substances and is usually taken to reduce the effects of aging and the symptoms of senile dementia. DHEA is water soluble within the body and is easily measured by saliva and blood tests.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a brain condition that was first described in 1906 by German physician Alois Alzheimer. He noticed certain progressive symptoms, such as short-term memory loss, reduced cognitive skills, confusion, inappropriate behavior and depression. Upon death, Alzheimer's sufferers were found to have dehydrated, shrunken brains that contained many tangles of protein, called amyloid plaques. With the advent of MRI and CT scanning technology, Alzheimer's disease is often diagnosed by evidence of plaques and reduced brain size, although patients with this disease also have higher levels of cortisol and imbalanced cortisol/DHEA ratios, according to "Professional Guide to Diseases."
DHEA Blood Tests
According to a May, 2011 report on UPI.com, Canadian researchers have developed a very sensitive blood test that oxidizes DHEA and can be used to detect and diagnose Alzheimer's disease at an early stage and differentiate it from other types of senile dementia. The researchers, from McGill University, note that those with advanced Alzheimer's have much lower and more readily detectable DHEA levels, but their method can be used to distinguish very early stages of DHEA imbalance.
DHEA Supplementation
Studies examining the effects of DHEA supplements on the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease have been inconclusive or have showed little to no change. For example, the first randomized, double-blind trial of DHEA for Alzheimer's disease, published in a 2003 edition of "Neurology," concluded that six months of DHEA supplements had no effect on Alzheimer's patients. Almost 60 patients, given 100 mg of DHEA daily for six months, were tested for cognitive functioning and rated by physicians on any changes. DHEA did not significantly improve cognitive performance or ratings of disease severity. Other researchers believe that longer and larger studies, and perhaps higher dosages of DHEA, are needed to test these findings.
References
- "Textbook of Medical Physiology, Tenth Edition"; Arthur C. Guyton et al.; 2000
- "Human Biochemistry and Disease"; Gerald Litwack; 2008
- "Professional Guide to Diseases, Ninth Edition"; Springhouse Publishing; 2009
- UPI.com; Health Articles: "Alzheimer's Blood Test Involves DHEA"; May 4, 2011
- "Neurology"; DHEA Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study; O.M. Wolkowitz et al.; April 2003
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