Low Testosterone Levels in Relation to Depression - Research Paper Example

? Low testosterone levels in relation to Depression Grade (27th, Nov. Low testosterone levels in relation to Depression Recent researches have indicated a positive relationship between testosterone levels and depression in men. The researches have indicated that the levels of this hormone affect how men respond to treatment regarding depression. Thus, a higher percentage of men who do not respond to conventional depression treatment have either low or low-to-normal testosterone levels (Carnahan & Perry, 2004). Additionally, it is established that low testosterone levels can cause clinical depression in older men (Michael, 2006). As male individuals grow older, their testosterone levels decrease. Therefore, men who are above the age of 55 years are observed to have a low level of testosterone hormones. The consequence of the low levels of testosterone is that, such male always feel fatigued and their level of irritability is increased. Additionally, testosterone levels are associated with low sexual drives, which keep older men less sexually active, making them concentrated on other life issues than they are concerned with sexual related affairs (Carnahan & Perry, 2004). Therefore, the relationship between testosterone levels and depression in men can be traced from the fact that low testosterone levels are associated with triggering symptoms such as anorexia, fatigue and low libido (Shores, 2007). On the other hand, such symptoms are associated with affecting the mood of individuals. Thus, individual who have fatigue and anorexia have higher chances of experiencing low moods. This, on the other hand, suppresses their levels of excitement and happiness, while raising their depression index. Therefore, it is common to find people who have low moods and who are experiencing anorexia and fatigue equally depressed and stressed up (Shores, 2007). The relationship between testosterone levels and depression in men can also be traced from the fact that the levels of testosterone are known to alter the brain chemistry (Carnahan & Perry, 2004). This is because; testosterone levels are associated with affecting the serotonin levels in the brain. This in turn affects the psychological and emotional characteristics of individuals. This is because; serotonin is a neurotransmitter that relays messages from one region of the brain to the other (Gonzales, et al., 2002). Therefore, the levels of testosterone hormones in an individual, determine their levels of serotonin. It is observed that the older male individuals who have low levels of testosterone have also low levels of serotonin. Thus, with low levels of serotonin, the rate of transmission and relaying messages in the brain is lowered, making an individual less active (Berglund et al., 2011). The less activity of an individual increases their levels of anxiety and consequent low moods, which are symptoms associated with depression. Serotonin is known to influence a higher percentage of brain cells, mostly those related with moods, sexual desire, social behavior, memory and learning, as well as sleep (Devina, et al., 2010). When the serotonin levels in the body are low, the levels of activity in these brain cells are also low; an aspect that promotes low moods, low memory and low social behaviors and interaction, which on the other hand promote depression. Therefore, whenever the brain cells are suppressed due to low activity or inactivity caused by the low serotonin levels, depression may arise, always preceded by stress as the preceptor of the brain cells (Carnahan & Perry, 2004). Therefore, it is observed that the relationship between testosterone levels and serotonin, have an influence on men’s depression. Depression is likely to be higher in women than men, until the age of 65, when the gender difference disappear, and the men become equally depressed as their female counterparts (Berglund et al., 2011). This is because, testosterone levels decreases with age in males, although the rate at which the decline occurs varies from one individual to another. However, at the age of 65, most males’ testosterone hormone levels are observed to have declined significantly, lowering the sexual desire and functionality, as well as affecting their moods and anxiety levels. However, it is the free testosterone hormone levels that actually matters in this case. The older male, with the free testosterone levels below the 20% mark are three times depressed, than their counterparts who have their testosterone levels above the 20% mark (Berglund et al., 2011). Therefore, there are higher chances that treating the testosterone hormone levels in male can go a long way in treating depression, since raising the hormone levels have the impact of raising the moods of the individuals, while lowering the anxiety and consequently stress levels (Shores, 2007). Additionally, low testosterone levels in males are associated with increased health disorders such as cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. Therefore, low testosterone levels affect the physical health state of individuals, which in turn affect their moods, anxiety and stress levels. This has a large bearing on their psychological and emotional state, which in turn affects their levels of depression. Therefore, low testosterone levels indirectly affect depression in males, through affecting the state of their physical health, which in turn affect their depression levels (Devina, et al., 2010). The other plausible observation is that testosterone levels in men decreases with age. This is directly linked to the depression levels increasing with older men as compared to younger or middle aged men. Therefore, many older men have low levels of testosterone, while at the same time; many older men have high levels of depression. This observation suggests a link between testosterone levels and depression in men (Carnahan & Perry, 2004). For men aged between 20-40 years, only 1% has low testosterone levels. This rate keep increasing with the increase in age, with the men between the ages of 40-60 years, having 7% of them with low testosterone levels (Berglund et al., 2011). The rates accelerate for the men with ages between 60-80 years, where 35% of them have low or lower-to-normal testosterone levels (Shores, 2007). With the increase in the percentage of low testosterone levels, the rates of anxiety, low libido, anorexia, and low moods increase, with men above the age of 70 years being the most affected. The same categories are the ones observed to display higher percentages of stress and depression (Gonzales, et al., 2002). Therefore, there is a link between testosterone levels and anxiety, anorexia and insomnia, which in turn affects the rates of stress and depression in individuals (Michael, 2006). Testosterone is a major hormone in the body of men that determines most of their functionality. Therefore, with the decline in the levels of this hormone, it is certain that the levels of activity of most of their body organs will decrease. Therefore, in addition to the reduced brain cell activity as a result of low serotonin levels caused by reduced free testosterone levels, testosterone reduction also causes a decline in the whole body functionality (Devina, et al., 2010). Therefore, most men, in addition to reduced libido and erectile dysfunction, are affected by reduced testosterone levels through having feelings of low energy. These feelings accelerate to cause low memory, decreased social activity and sleep, which on the other hand serve to increase the stress levels of the body. Eventually, the individual affected by the feeling of less energy, caused by testosterone levels, becomes more tired, fatigued and anxious. This results to less body and brain activity, while increasing sleep and insomnia. The consequence is that the individual emerges more stressed and consequently depressed (Berglund et al., 2011). Reduced body energy and increased fatigue caused by low testosterone levels, results to a difficulty in conveying emotions to others, as well as a difficulty in receiving, interpreting and understanding other people’s feelings (Gonzales, et al., 2002). This in turn can cause lack of social interaction and a feeling of desired seclusion and low body activity. This on the other hand reduces the scope of mind activity, increasing its concentration on various issues that are bothering the mind. Consequently, an individual feels even more stressed and depressed (Carnahan & Perry, 2004). Therefore, there is a positive link between testosterone levels and depression in men. This is a situation that calls for the testosterone levels to be addressed, since it can help in depression therapy and treatment. Studies have been done on the effect of using testosterone hormone for the treatment of depression. Individuals who were given testosterone gels on top of their antidepressant treatment were observed to have an improvement in moods and reduce anxiety, while becoming more energized and active (Berglund et al., 2011). Therefore, testosterone can be considered as a viable way of improving the depressed situations of individuals. Individuals with a low or a low-to-normal testosterone levels can be given testosterone replacement, which will go a long way in improving their depressed condition (Devina, et al., 2010). The testosterone is more important for individuals who do not seem to respond to conventional depression therapies. However, although the testosterone treatment may lower the anxiety levels and improve the moods of such individual, an aspect that is key to improving their depressed status, there is the health risk of long-term testosterone supplementation, which may cause cancer (Michael, 2006). Conclusion There is a positive relationship between testosterone levels and depression in men. The relationship takes the form of low testosterone levels triggering depression causative agents, such as anxiety, low social activity, anorexia and insomnia. Low testosterone levels are also observed to affect the Serotonin levels in the body and notably the brain, which in turn impacts on an individual body activity, moods and stress, causing depression. Therefore, testosterone treatment and replacement for men who does not respond to conventional depression therapy is recommended, though with a clear scrutiny into the likelihood of the testosterone replacement in causing cancer. References Berglund, L., et al. (2011). Testosterone levels and psychological health status in men from a general population: the Troms study. Aging Male 14(1), 37-41. Carnahan, M. & Perry, J. (2004). Depression in Aging Men. Drugs & Aging 21(6), 361-376. Devina, J. et al (2010). Low free testosterone levels are associated with prevalence and incidence of depressive symptoms in older men. Clinical Endocrinology 72(2), 232-240. Gonzales, G. et al. (2002).Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia 34(6), 367-372. Michael, Z. (2006).Testosterone and the brain. Aging Male 9(4), 195-199. Shores, M. (2007).Low Testosterone Is Associated with Decreased Function and Increased Mortality Risk: A Preliminary Study of Men in a Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 52(12), 2077-2081. Read More