ABSTRACT
With ageing, the endocrine system is not spared and there is a decline in function of many of the endocrine glands. Thus, the prevalence of endocrine system disorders increases during normal ageing. This chapter focuses on some of the main changes associated with ageing that affect clinical disease of the classical endocrine system. It discusses some of the recent debates on whether therapy with endocrine hormones will prevent, retard, reduce or reverse the degenerative changes associated with the ageing process. The chapter summarises the different endocrine hormones and some of the effects of ageing. The unique feature of ageing in the endocrine system is the 'timed' changes during the female menopause in which involution and degeneration of the ovaries occur with normal ageing in the absence of disease. There is a general decrease in muscle mass and increase in fat mass with normal ageing.
