Private MD News

Testosterone levels not associated with age

Category: Hormones and Metabolism

It is often thought that testosterone levels naturally decrease in men as they get older. However, one researcher is saying that low testosterone test results are likely a symptom of deteriorating general health, and are not necessarily connected to age.

David Handelsman, of the University of Sydney, said that many medical professionals believe that worsening health in old age may be spurred initially by low testosterone levels. Yet, after studying the correlation between age, overall well-being and testosterone, he believes that it is the other way around.

Handelsman and a team of researchers recently conducted a study in which they administered testosterone testing to a group of 325 men over the age of 40. The results showed little correlation between hormone levels and age. Instead, they did find a mild association between testosterone levels and other factors, including obesity.

"We had originally expected age to have an effect on serum testosterone, so the findings were a bit of a surprise," Handelsman.

He said that, rather than focusing on age to determine which men may benefit from testosterone testing, other factors like body weight and overall health should be considered.