Updated:
Thursday, 21 Oct 2010, 8:19 AM EDT
Published
: Thursday, 21 Oct 2010, 8:19 AM EDT
By NewsCore
A hormone found predominantly in wealthy people was linked to a longer life, according to British research published Thursday.
Scientists from University College London studied thousands of over-50s for the English Longitudinal Study of Aging and found that wealthier participants had higher levels of the life-lengthening hormone DHEAS.
The natural steroid hormone is produced by the adrenal glands, sex organs and brain, and its production has been linked to regular exercise, a good diet and companionship.
The research suggested that in the future, the hormone could be artificially produced to help people live longer.
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, of the university’s Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, said, “A striking new finding is that the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS] that predicts life expectancy also follows a social gradient: less wealth, lower levels of DHEAS.”
The research also found higher levels of a second hormone -- the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) -- in those who are wealthier. The two hormones help control the body’s response to stress and regulate various body processes.