Has anyone tried DHEA?
 

In studying the role of cortisol I learned that it sits on one end of a see-saw with DHEA. Any have experience with it?

1: Neurobiol Aging. 2006 Nov;27(11):1684-93. Epub 2005 Oct 25.

DHEA improves symptomatic treatment of moderately and severely impaired MPTP
monkeys.

Belanger N, Gregoire L, Bedard PJ, Di Paolo T.

Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology Research Center, Laval University Medical
Center (CHUL), 2705 Laurier Boulevard, Que., Canada G1V 4G2.

The steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is abundant in men and women and
decreases rapidly during aging. Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most
common neurodegenerative disorder just behind Alzheimer.
l-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-Dopa) therapy remains the most effective
treatment but many patients develop motor complications. This study investigated
the acute effect of DHEA alone and with l-Dopa in 12 females monkeys lesioned
with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to model PD. DHEA
administration alone improved the mean parkinsonian score at 1, 5 and 15mg/kg in
moderately and severely impaired MPTP monkeys and increased blood DHEA
concentrations. DHEA with a low dose of l-Dopa increased the l-Dopa effect in
moderately and severely impaired MPTP monkeys. DHEA lengthened duration of the
effect of the low dose of l-Dopa by 15-45min. DHEA at 1, 5 and 15mg/kg combined
with a high dose of l-Dopa did not increase dyskinesias. DHEA could act by
reducing inhibitory GABAergic activity in the striatal output pathways. DHEA
could also be metabolized into estradiol in the brain and increase acutely
dopamine activity.

PMID: 16253392 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A Long time ago
 

Between 1990 and 1997, before I started on regular Parkinson's meds, , I used DHEA along with L-Phenylalanine, L-Tyrosine and NADH to try to treat my symptoms. DHEA was referred to as "The Mother of all Hormones," and I considered, at the time, Parkinson's to be linked to the endocrine system (I now know why I thought that). I had some success, but having never tried DHEA alone, I cannot say what success, if any, I had with it.


michael b.