All articles tagged with #hormones
Blond hair in children often darkens as they grow, likely due to puberty-driven hormonal changes that increase eumelanin production in hair follicles. While hormones such as estrogens and androgens may influence pigment output, genetics also plays a key role in whether a child’s hair darkens or stays blond, and the specific genes involved are not yet fully identified.
A Nature Aging study using PathStAR analyzed thousands of tissue images from 970 donors and found that aging is organ-specific and often biphasic: arteries show early aging in the 30s, ovaries in two bursts around 35–40 and 55–60, and nine other tissues exhibit two aging peaks in the 30s and 50s. Hormonal changes and inflammation appear to link these shifts, suggesting interventions targeted to vulnerable organs could slow aging more effectively than a single overall aging clock.
A cross-sectional study of 2,264 adults found higher habitual coffee intake is associated with lower body fat and greater skeletal muscle, plus favorable metabolic and sex-hormone profiles—stronger insulin-glucose balance and higher testosterone in men, with SHBG increases; associations in women were weaker. Higher coffee intake also linked to lower circulating BCAAs, a marker linked to metabolic disease. Because the data are observational, causality can’t be inferred, and researchers call for longer-term studies to confirm mechanisms.
A Finnish study of 2,264 adults found higher coffee intake linked to lower total and visceral fat, more skeletal muscle, and healthier metabolic markers, plus sex-hormone patterns (men show higher total testosterone and SHBG but lower free testosterone; women show increased SHBG and lower free androgens). Because the study is observational, it cannot prove causation; further research is needed to determine if coffee causes these changes and which compounds might be responsible.
A Finnish study of over 2,200 middle‑aged adults found heavy coffee drinkers had less visceral fat and more skeletal muscle, possibly due to caffeine boosting metabolism. In men, coffee was associated with higher bioavailable testosterone and SHBG, but slightly lower free testosterone, while women showed more modest hormone changes. These hormonal shifts may help explain coffee’s link to lower diabetes risk, but the study is observational and cannot prove causation.
Early-stage studies suggest obesity drugs may help manage PMOS, a hormonal disorder, offering hope to affected families; further research is needed to confirm effectiveness and safety.
The piece discusses social media stories about the luteal phase, where many women report changes in appearance, skin, bloating and mood. Experts explain these shifts come from hormonal changes (falling estrogen and rising progesterone) that can affect skin, fluids, and cognition. It stresses the need for better education about menstrual cycles, and offers coping tips like staying hydrated, nutrition, reducing salt and alcohol, and staying active, while advising medical help if symptoms are severe.
New NORC General Social Survey data from 2024 (1,893 married respondents) show married Americans report a wide range of sexual frequency—from not at all to two-to-three times a week—with the average adult about 53 sex acts per year. While marriage often correlates with slightly lower frequency than singles, there’s no universal “ideal” quota. Frequency tends to decline with age and life stress, and libido can be affected by hormonal changes, thyroid/metabolic health, stress, and medications like SSRIs. For mismatched desire, doctors recommend open discussion and a medical check of hormones, medications, and overall health.
A large longitudinal study of over 5,400 girls from the ABCD project finds that rising testosterone between ages 10–12 strongly predicts later anxiety and depressive symptoms, independent of visible puberty changes; early DHEA spikes (by age 9) and a later estrogen increase may modulate mood, suggesting an 10–12 year window for proactive emotional support to curb mental-health risks.
A first-of-its-kind UK study from King’s College London and Queen Mary tracks 50 women with ADHD to map how hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle affect ADHD symptoms and medication effectiveness, using diaries to link cycle phase with focus, impulsivity, anxiety and daily functioning; early accounts suggest estrogen dips can worsen symptoms, underscoring the need for better diagnosis and personalized treatment for women.
A Nature Aging study in mice shows ovaries begin aging well before menopause, with degraded coordination among eggs, follicles, and endocrine function, plus shifts toward inflammation and immune remodeling. This suggests reproductive aging is a progressive, tissue-level process—not just follicle depletion—and may continue after menopause, with implications for oophorectomy and broader women’s health; researchers are pursuing human tissue validation with Yale collaborators.
A Danish Medicines Agency study using about 3 million women's health data over 25 years found Depo-Provera and five other hormonal birth control drugs are linked to a small, temporary increase in risk for meningioma, a rare brain tumor. The risk is higher during use and largely fades within five years after stopping; the absolute risk remains very low.
A UK study identifies a distinctive androgen fingerprint in endometriosis, notably elevated 11-ketotestosterone, pointing to a non-invasive blood test that could diagnose the condition rapidly and reduce the current years-long diagnostic delay; researchers aim to develop the test and explore new treatments, with larger trials needed.
A recent study found that fluctuations in female sex hormones across the menstrual cycle have little effect on how muscles respond to resistance training, and the researchers suggest this may also apply to male hormones, implying hormones may not be the primary limiter of muscle growth for either sex.
An increasing number of mothers over 40 report overlapping postpartum and perimenopausal symptoms—mood swings, brain fog and sleep disruption—as hormonal changes from childbirth intersect with aging, illustrated by a 44-year-old mom’s experience after a 2024 birth.