Dr. John L. Zenk of the Minnesota Applied Research Center in Chanhassen, Minnesota, and Dr. Michael A. Kuskowski of the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, presented their findings as part of the scientific sessions of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Experimental Biology 2004.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a natural pro-hormone in the body that declines with age, has been postulated to account for some of the decline of the immune system that is seen in the elderly. 3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone (7-oxo DHEA), a more potent and natural DHEA derivative in the body that also declines with age, has been previously shown to enhance T-cell function in human lymphocytes. 7-oxo DHEA, commonly known as 7-Keto
Americans are growing older at an alarming rate. Life expectancy at birth is now more than 50 percent greater than it was a century ago. One half of all humans who have ever lived to age 65 are alive today and one out of every 26 Baby Boomers will live to be 100 years old. As the percentage of elderly Americans increases the impact on future health care costs also increases.
Aging is associated with a decline in a large number of bodily functions, the most important of which is immune function. Numerous changes occur in the immune system with advancing age, probably contributing to decreased immune responsiveness in the elderly. These changes are often associated with important manifestations such as increased susceptibility to infection and cancer.
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Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
20-Apr-2004