There is increasing evidence of a link between low testosterone levels and depression in men.
Not being young and vital can certainly make you feel a little blue, but there is more to it than that. Over the past several years, there have been many studies linking low testosterone with depression in men.
One of the latest studies to look at this was presented at the recent 2015 conference of the Endocrine Society. The study conducted by researchers with the George Washington University in Washington, DC found that men with lower than normal, or “borderline” testosterone levels, have a much higher degree of clinical depression, or depressive symptoms, than men in the general population.
This study found that half of the men who were referred to a physician for treatment of “borderline” testosterone levels suffered from depression.
Testosterone Levels and Depression
Just as there is mounting evidence that low testosterone levels, or low T, can be linked to depression.
There is also significant evidence that men with depression and low T have benefited from testosterone therapy.
In 2009, a meta-analysis (a study of all available studies on a given subject) was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.
Conducted by researchers from the West Virginia University School of Medicine, it concluded that testosterone therapy could be an effective treatment for men with depression, particularly those who have not responded to conventional antidepressant medications.
A few years later, a 2012 study published in the journal, Biological Psychiatry, by a group of researchers from the Florida State University, concluded that testosterone replacement therapy was an effective treatment for relieving depressive symptoms in animal subjects.
Though none of these studies have been able to pinpoint the exact relationship between testosterone and depression, most theories suggest it has to do with the way testosterone effects the production and/or release of neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters, most notably serotonin and dopamine, are chemicals in the brain that are associated with mood. Declining levels of testosterone as you age, seems to also impact the level of these so-called “feel good” chemicals in the brain.
Testosterone therapy for Low Testosterone Levels
Depression or other changes in mood are only some of the detrimental effects that can happen due to declining testosterone levels as you get older.
Sometimes these effects can be relatively minor, or as with depression, they can be life altering, effecting everything from your personal relationships to your job performance.
If you have low testosterone, or low T, in addition to changes in mood, you may also experience:
- Declining muscle mass and bone loss
- Overall fatigue and a lack of vitality
- Sexual wellness issues, including, but not limited to, erectile dysfunction
- Packing on pounds that are much more difficult to take off
- Memory loss and other cognitive difficulties
In fact, a large percentage of the men in the Washington, DC study who showed signs of depression along with low-T, also showed a significant number of the above symptoms.
40% of the men with low-T and depression were also overweight. 78% reported erectile dysfunction, 69% complained of “low libido” and 52% of low energy.
The good news is, a carefully prescribed testosterone therapy program can give you back, what time has taken away.
The benefits of Testosterone Therapy are only available only with a doctor’s prescription, can help you to look and feel your best, physically and emotionally.
Stop feeling depressed over the man you used to be – find him again by calling us today!
