The two clinically most important changes in endocrine activity during aging involve the pancreas and the thyroid. Approximately 40% individuals 65 to 74 years old and 50% individuals order than 80 years have impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus, and are risk developing marcovascular, complications at an accelerated rate. Pancreatic insulin receptor, and post-receptor changes associated with aging are critical components of the endocrinology of aging: Apart from decreased insulin secretion peripheral insulin resistance related to poor diet, physical inactivity, increased abdominal fat mass, and decreased lean body mass contribute to the deterioration of glucose metabolism.

Age-related thyroid dysfunction is also common in the elderly who commonly exhibit lowered plasma thyroxin (T4) and increased thyrotrophic-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations. Normal aging is accompanied by a slight decrease in pituitary TSH release, and especially by a decreased peripheral degradation of T4. Physicians are familiar with the changes in insulin sensitivity and thyroid function that occur in the aging population, generally recognized and treated as diseases, but they are becoming increasingly familiar with three other hormone systems that are part of process of aging: the growth hormone released by the pituitary gland and responsible for somatopause; the decreased  in  gonadotropin leuteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) causing menopause and andropause, and the reduced production of dehydroiandrosterone (DHEA) causing adrenopause. The effects of these hormone changes have been central issue of women’s health, menopause and its consequences. In recent years, hormone replacement strategies have been developed, but many are aspects remain controversial, and increasing hormone blood levels to those who found in 30 to 50 years old individuals has not yet been uniformly proven to be safe and of benefit.