A decline in normal physiological functions characterizes the aging process. 
While some of these changes are benign, the decrease in the function of the 
cardiovascular system that occurs during aging leads to the activation of 
pathological processes associated with an increased risk for heart disease and 
its complications. Imbalances in endocrine function are also common occurrences 
during the aging process. Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones and are 
critical regulators of energy metabolism, inflammation, and cardiac function. 
Glucocorticoids exert their actions by binding the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) 
and, in some instances, to the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). GR and MR are 
members of the nuclear receptor family of ligand-activated transcription 
factors. There is strong evidence that imbalances in GR and MR signaling in the 
heart have a causal role in cardiac disease. The extent to which glucocorticoids 
play a role in the aging heart, however, remains unclear. This review will 
summarize the positive and negative direct and indirect effects of 
glucocorticoids on the heart and the latest molecular and physiological evidence 
on how alterations in glucocorticoid signaling lead to changes in cardiac 
structure and function. We also briefly discuss the effects of other hormones 
systems such as estrogens and GH/IGF-1 on different cardiovascular cells during 
aging. We will also review the link between imbalances in glucocorticoid levels 
and the molecular processes responsible for promoting cardiomyocyte dysfunction 
in aging. Finally, we will discuss the potential for selectively manipulating 
glucocorticoid signaling in cardiomyocytes, which may represent an improved 
therapeutic approach for preventing and treating age-related heart disease.