A method is provided for treating androgen receptor-associated conditions such as age-related diseases, for example sarcopenia, employing a compound of the structure 1 wherein R.sub.1 is CN or H; X is O or S; R.sub.2 is alkyl or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or substituted cycloalkyl, arylalkyl or substituted arylalkyl, aryl or substituted aryl, or heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are independently selected from H, C(O)R.sub.2a, alkyl or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or substituted cycloalkyl, arylalkyl or substituted arylalkyl, aryl or substituted aryl, or heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl; R.sub.2a is alkyl or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or substituted cycloalkyl, arylalkyl or substituted arylalkyl, aryl or substituted aryl, or heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl; G is aryl or heteroaryl, or aryl or heteroaryl substituted with one, two, three, four or five, where possible, of the substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen (H), halo, NO.sub.2, CN, OR.sub.2b, OH, CF.sub.3, NR.sub.3aR.sub.4a; wherein R.sub.3a and R.sub.4a, and R.sub.2b are the same or different and are independently selected from alkyl or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or substituted cycloalkyl, arylalkyl or substituted arylalkyl, aryl or substituted aryl, or heteroaryl and substituted heteroaryl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a prodrug ester thereof.