Testosterone and depression in aging men

In men, testosterone secretion affects neurobehavioral functions such as se xual arousal, aggression, emotional tone, and cognition. Beginning at appro ximately age 50, men secrete progressively lower amounts of testosterone; a bout 20% of men over age 60 have lower-than-normal levels. The psychiatric sequelae are poorly understood, yet there is evidence of an association wit h depressive symptoms. The authors reviewed 1) the physiology of the hypoth alamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and its changes with age in men; and 2) the e vidence linking testosterone level and major depression in men. Data on thi s relationship are derived from two types of studies: observational studies comparing testosterone levels and secretory patterns in depressed and non- depressed men, and treatment studies using exogenous androgens for male dep ression. The data suggest that some depressed older men may have state-depe ndent low testosterone levels and that some depressed men may improve with androgen treatment.