The brain’s hypothalamus is thought to influence aging, due in part to its regulation of metabolism and multiple hormones including testosterone. But the role of the hypothalamus in exceptional longevity is not clear. To gain more insight Sofiya Milman, M.D., M.S., Sandra Aleksic, M.D., M.S., and colleagues studied testosterone levels among 84 Ashkenazi Jewish men between the ages of 90 and 106. In findings published online on June 29 in Aging Cell, 94 percent of the men had normal hypothalamic function, suggesting that a healthy hypothalamus may be associated with exceptional longevity in humans. In addition, more than half the men were undergoing a process that mimics female menopause in that testosterone production drops due to aging testes.

The study suggests that hypothalamic regulation of hormones and other processes may have an important influence on aging and lifespan.

Dr. Milman is an associate professor of medicine and of genetics at Einstein and an attending physician at Montefiore. She also is the director of human longevity studies at Einstein’s Institute for Aging Research. Dr. Aleksic is an assistant professor of medicine at Einstein and an attending physician at Montefiore.