What are DHEA’s effects on aging and cognition?

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    Last Updated: April 23, 2025

    As people age, DHEA levels decrease and cortisol levels increase, which can negatively affect cognition. Although regular exercise can help improve DHEA-S levels in older adults, supplemental DHEA does not seem to enhance cognitive function in people over age 50.

    As the body ages, in addition to DHEA levels decreasing, the catabolic (i.e., breakdown-causing) hormone cortisol generally increases, which can negatively affect cognition.[1] Fortunately, regular exercise seems to increase DHEA-S levels and decrease cortisol levels in adults 65 and older.[2]

    Despite DHEA decreasing with age, cortisol increasing with age, and DHEA levels being higher in the central nervous system (suggesting a higher need for DHEA in the brain),[3][4] DHEA supplementation does not appear to benefit cognitive function in adults over 50.[5][4]

    What are DHEA’s effects on aging and cognition? - Examine