Testosterone, Depression & Aging: It’s Not Just in Your Head

You’re tired. You’re unmotivated. You snap more easily. You used to hit the gym or the bedroom with energy — now it all just feels… dull. You think, “Maybe I’m just getting older.”

But here’s the thing:It might be expected — but it’s not normal.

Testosterone Is Dropping in Men Across All Ages

A huge study out of Boston University (Travison et al., 2007) followed nearly 1,500 men over two decades and found testosterone levels have been declining by about 1% per year — even after adjusting for age and health. That means a healthy 35-year-old man today has lower testosterone than a healthy 35-year-old did twenty years ago.

And it’s not just America. An Israeli study of over 3,000 men found the same thing. Experts point to rising stress, poor sleep, processed diets, environmental toxins, and sedentary lifestyles as contributing factors.

What Low T Feels Like

• Fatigue and brain fog

• Low libido and sexual dysfunction

• Mood changes, irritability, or even depression

• Loss of strength and muscle mass

• Increased abdominal fat

• Poor recovery from exercise

• Decreased motivation

👉 You’re expected to power through symptoms like fatigue, low libido, and mood swings — when the answer might be hormonal. These symptoms are common — but not normal. And they’re treatable.

Is It Low T — or Just Aging?

It’s easy to brush off how you're feeling as "just getting older." Fatigue, low libido, mood swings, poor recovery, and even weight gain all get chalked up to aging. But what if there’s more to it?

In thousands of men, these symptoms trace back to something specific,

treatable, and incredibly common: low testosterone.

As men age, testosterone levels naturally decline — but in recent decades, studies have shown that men's testosterone levels are dropping more rapidly and starting earlier than in previous generations.1 Environmental toxins, increased obesity, poor sleep, and chronic stress are all contributors. The result? A growing population of men experiencing hormonal decline — and not enough are being tested or treated.

The Problems with Testosterone Care in Modern Medicine

1. It’s Not Being Checked — Even When It Should Be

Despite how common the symptoms are, most men are never tested for low testosterone — even when they present with red flag signs like mood changes or sexual dysfunction.

An internal poll conducted by a national telehealth provider revealed that over 70% of men currently on antidepressants had never had their testosterone levels checked. That’s a major red flag, especially when low testosterone can mimic — and even contribute to — major depressive disorder.

Multiple studies confirm the link between low testosterone and mood disorders:

• A 2018 meta-analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry analyzed 27 randomized controlled trials and found that testosterone therapy significantly improved depressive symptoms, especially in men with low baseline T.²

• A 2016 study in Psychoneuroendocrinology showed that men with low testosterone had a higher incidence of major depression, even after

  controlling for other variables.³

• The European Male Aging Study (EMAS), which followed over 3,300 men across eight countries, linked low testosterone levels with significant reductions in mood and well-being.⁴

  
  

Yet most men are never screened.

Routine testosterone screening is not part of standard checkups. If you’re not asking for it, it’s probably not being done.

2. They’re Told “It’s Normal” — But It Doesn’t Feel Normal

Even when testosterone is tested, the next problem often arises: being told it’s "normal." The reference range for testosterone is usually between 250–900 ng/dL, depending on the lab. That means a man with a level of 260 ng/dL is considered “normal” — despite having symptoms identical to someone who measures 240.

This range is statistical, not physiological. It includes sick, aging men and those with symptoms. There is no evidence that 260 ng/dL is optimal. In fact, clinical improvement is a better target than lab values.

Additionally:

• Testosterone levels fluctuate as much as 30% throughout the day.

• Morning labs are essential for accurate assessment.

• Multiple tests may be needed to confirm a diagnosis.

• Even “borderline” results may benefit from treatment, especially when symptoms are present.

• 
  

As the Endocrine Society and American Urological Association state:

Diagnosis and treatment should be based on labs AND symptoms, not numbers alone.

Take Charge of Your Health

Low testosterone is underdiagnosed, and the burden of detection falls on YOU.

If you're experiencing any of the following, it may be time to get tested:

• Low sex drive or performance

• Difficulty building or maintaining muscle

• Fatigue, burnout, or low motivation

• Brain fog or mood changes

• Weight gain or stubborn fat

  
  

We use the ADAM Questionnaire, a quick, validated symptom survey that helps screen for low testosterone. You can take it right now [insert Q-ADAM link here].

Whether you're curious or struggling, you deserve answers. And treatment options go far beyond testosterone shots.

Stay tuned for our next blog covering:

• What testosterone does and doesn’t do

• Natural ways to raise testosterone

• Prescription options (injections, oral, enclomiphene, and more)

• The real risks vs. myths of TRT

  
  

References

1. Travison TG, et al. A Population-Level Decline in Serum Testosterone Levels in American Men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92(1):196-202.

2. Walther A, et al. Effects of Testosterone Administration on Depressive Symptoms in Men. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(1):31–40.

3. Shores MM, et al. Testosterone and Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2016;63:76-88.

4. Wu FCW, et al. Hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis disruptions in aging men: EMAS study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95(4):1810-1818.