Association of plasma sex hormone levels with functional decline in elderly men and women.

Aim: We aimed to determine whether plasma sex hormone levels are associated with activities of daily living (ADL), cognition, depression and vitality in elderly individuals with functional decline.

Methods: Two hundred and eight consecutive persons 70 years or older (108 men and 100 women; mean +/- standard deviation, 81 +/- 7 years) with a chronic stable condition, receiving long-term care at a long-term care facilities located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, were enrolled. Plasma total testosterone, free testosterone (only in men), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S) and estradiol levels were determined in the morning after an overnight fast.