Ninety-four institutionalized subjects (mean age 82.9 years; 13 men and 81 women) were assessed for serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels. The mean value was 457 ng/ml (SD = 426) in this cross-sectional study. There was a significant decrease in DHEAS levels with age. There was no difference among demented patients with Alzheimer's disease (n = 46), other dementia cases (n = 16), and other individuals (n = 32). The subjects treated for arterial hypertension had significantly lower DHEAS levels. No correlation was found between DHEAS and cortisol values. After age adjustment, no association was observed between DHEAS and chronic diseases, medications, several biochemical or hematological parameters, or 3-year mortality.