Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in nursing home men.

Previous studies have shown the normal range of plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) for independent community men over 60 years old to be 30-200 micrograms/dL. In human adults, low levels of plasma DHEAS have been correlated with a high mortality rate. In rodents, dehydroepiandrosterone, the precursor of DHEAS, has exhibited antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, neurotropic, and memory-enhancing effects. We have now measured plasma DHEAS in 50 independent community men age 55-94 and in 61 nursing home men age 57-104. Mean DHEAS was significantly lower in the nursing home men than in the community men. Plasma DHEAS was subnormal (less than 30 micrograms/dL) in 40% of the nursing home residents and in only 6% of the community subjects. In both groups, DHEAS was inversely related to age. In the nursing home men, additionally, plasma DHEAS was inversely related to the presence of an organic brain syndrome and to the degree of dependence in activities of daily living. Plasma DHEAS was subnormal in 80% of the nursing home men who required total care. There was no significant correlation between the plasma concentrations of DHEAS and testosterone, or between plasma DHEAS and one-year mortality rate.