The endocrine system plays an important role in orchestrating various functions such as metabolism, growth, development, reproduction, digestion, and cognition. Aging is a natural process that involves a general decline in many physiological functions with time and is associated with a reduced capacity to maintain homeostasis, resulting in loss of function and eventually death. Changes in endocrine systems, including menopause in women, androgen deficiency in men, loss of skeletal mass, decrease in growth hormone serum concentrations, and increased incidence of Type 2 diabetes are all more common or certain in older individuals. Thus, it is evident that there are significant alterations in endocrine function across life span and that the aging process can affect endocrine homeostasis.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to elucidate how endocrine function is altered during the aging process, investigate potential underlying mechanisms, and discuss the development of novel endocrine therapies and drugs. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Neuroendocrine alterations in aging
• Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid system and aging
• Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system and aging
• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system and aging
• Hypothalamic-pituitary-liver system and aging
• Pancreatic function, Type 2 diabetes, and metabolism in aging
• Growth hormone/IGF-1 axis in aging
• Renin-angiotensin system and aging
• Bone loss, calcium and vitamin D regulation in aging

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ije/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: