The adrenal glands in the body create the hormone known as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The female and male sex hormones, estrogen and androgen, are produced by the body using DHEA.
Because DHEA levels decrease with age, scientists have pondered whether DHEA could have anti-aging properties. Reduced than normal DHEA levels in the elderly have been linked to memory loss, heart disease, osteoporosis.