The major hormone produced by the adrenal gland is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The production of this hormone declines with age, while at the same time there is an increase in the incidence of major health problems such as cancer and heart disease. Does this association indicate a role for DHEA in health promotion? Medical textbooks do not report any conditions that are treatable by DHEA, yet in the USA where DHEA is available without prescription, millions of older Americans are using it as a daily nutritional supplement.
The goal of Health Promotion and Aging is to describe what is known about the role of reduced levels of DHEA in diseases of old age. The research agenda of the US National Institute of Aging is looked at, bringing into focus the areas where information is still scarce. Following this, experts have reviewed and analyzed information on the role of DHEA in modulation of fat and muscle, bone damage, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, fertility, and sexuality