[DHEA and aging].

DHEA and its ester sulfate metabolite, DHEAS, are steroids mainly secreted by the adrenal cortex, but also within the brain where they are considered as neurosteroids. No receptor was identified for DHEA or DHEAS. Their putative effects are mediated by their conversion into active sexual streroids, estradiol and testosterone, but their role is not clarified. Decreased serum levels of DHEA\DHEAS are associated with aging and have also been found in age-associated diseases. However, the results of epidemiological studies are contradictory and few therapeutic trials were published. A positive effect was found on the libido, bone status and skin in women over 70 years of age. No clear effect was evidenced on the cognitive status. Some studies showed a beneficial effect on thymic disorders, but this effect remains to be confirmed. We don't know the possible negative consequences of long-term administration of DHEA\DHEAS on cardiovascular disease and hormone-dependent cancers. Therefore, DHEA administration should not be recommended for aged people.