Hormonal changes during aging and their effects on quality of life

Hormonal dysregulation plays a central role in aging, exerting a profound, multidimensional impact on quality of life. This narrative review examines the impact of hormonal changes in understanding how age-dependent alterations in key hormonal axes, specifically those related to insulin, IGF-1, cortisol, thyroid hormones, parathyroid hormone, and sex hormones, affect metabolic, musculoskeletal, cognitive, and reproductive health. Altered hormone secretion and receptor sensitivity contribute to conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, cognitive decline, and disrupted sleep patterns. Age-related shifts in thyroid and parathyroid function, including decreased T3 conversion and elevated PTH, further compound these physiological changes. These hormonal imbalances manifest as a multidimensional burden on quality of life, encompassing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains, which are particularly pronounced in postmenopausal women. Emerging therapies targeting GH secretion, myostatin inhibition, heat shock proteins, and IGF-1 offer promising avenues for mitigating age-associated symptoms and improving quality of life.