A Focus on Hypogonadism and Diseases of Aging

Hypogonadism is a major medical challenge leading to a significant detriment in the quality of life and adversely affecting the function of multiple organ systems 1,2. Aside from the well-described symptoms of hypogonadism including; reduced libido, infertility, decreased energy, poor concentration and memory and increased body fat, chronic hypogonadism is strongly associated with several age-related diseases including Alzheimer’s disease 3-6, obesity, Type 2 diabetes7, and osteoporosis 8-10.

Hypogonadism can result from a defect within the gonads (primary) or from a defect that lies outside the gonads (secondary). Aging is the greatest cause of primary hypogonadism. All women post-menopause are hypogonadal. Similarly, all men over 50 years of age suffer from some degree of hypogonadism due to the 1-2% loss of Leydig and Sertoli cell function each year after 30 years of age.

Over 2.4 billion people around the world suffer from a reduced capability to maintain hormone balance (hypogonadism), whether from age or an early onset form of hypogonadism. This reduced balance is directly correlated to age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, cancer, type II diabetes and osteoporosis, which afflict over 100 million people in the United States alone. JangoBio’s therapies are intended to address all adults over the age of 50, in addition to the current hormone replacement therapy (HRT) market. Reducing the prevalence of these diseases even by a slight degree would significantly lower the costs on medical systems worldwide.

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3Atwood, C. S. et al. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis with menopause and andropause promotes neurodegenerative senescence. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology 64, 93-103 (2005).

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7Mulligan, T., Frick, M. F., Zuraw, Q. C., Stemhagen, A. & McWhirter, C. Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study. Int J Clin Pract 60, 762-769, doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2006.00992.x (2006).
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9Bhasin, S. et al. Testosterone therapy in men with androgen deficiency syndromes: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 95, 2536-2559, doi:10.1210/jc.2009-2354 (2010).
10Atwood, C. S. & Bowen, R. L. The reproductive-cell cycle theory of aging: an update. Experimental Gerontology 46, 100-107, doi:10.1016/j.exger.2010.09.007 (2011).