James' World 2

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You might think that the impact of aging on the brain is something you can’t do much about. After all, isn’t it an inevitability?

To an extent, as we may not be able to rewind the clock and change our levels of higher education or intelligence (both factors that delay the onset of symptoms of aging). But adopting specific lifestyle behaviors–whether you’re in your thirties or late forties–can have a tangible effect on how well you age. Even in your fifties and beyond, activities like learning a new language or musical instrument, taking part in aerobic exercise, and developing meaningful social relationships can do wonders for your brain. There’s no question that when we compromise on looking after ourselves, our aging minds pick up the tab.

The Aging Process and Cognitive Decline

Over time, there is a build-up of toxins such as tau proteins and beta-amyloid plaques in the brain that correlate to the aging process and associated cognitive decline. Although this is a natural part of growing older, many factors can exacerbate it. Stress, neurotoxins such as alcohol, and lack of (quality and quantity) sleep can speed up the process.

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Photo by Evgeny Gromov/Getty Images

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Shivin Devgon just couldn’t shake that sluggish feeling. Toward the end of 2021, the San Diego software engineer thought his health was on the right track. He exercised regularly and was able to perform well at work. Still, he lacked energy, and his mood always felt off.

“I would feel tired a lot of the time,” Devgon told GQ. “I wouldn’t feel happy. I would just feel kind of dead.”

While Devgon was wondering what was wrong, he started reading about the increasingly prominent theory that toxins in pesticides and plastics are throwing off men’s endocrine systems—and he started to wonder about his own testosterone levels.

The hormone is responsible for regulating the male sex drive and maintaining a host of other critical functions: generating red blood cells, distributing body fat, preserving bone density, increasing muscle mass, and making sperm. A lack of testosterone—low T, for short—can impair those functions, and a simple blood test is all that’s needed to diagnose it. Generally, according to the American Urological Association, low T refers to men with levels below 300 nanograms per deciliter of blood.

Devgon’s test found that his overall level was 421 ng/dL—higher than the AUA’s number, but well below normal levels for a guy in his 20s. Wanting a boost, he began taking the testosterone-enhancing drug enclomiphene in December 2021, and now Devgon says his total level has more than doubled. His mood has improved, and he’s also noticed other changes.

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Illustration by GQ; Photographs by Getty Images

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