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Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
Published on: March 2, 2011
Sex hormones and cognitive function in older men
Kristine Yaffe1, Li-Yung Lui, Joeseph Zmuda
1Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. kyaffe@itsa.ucsf.edu
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|May 2, 2002
Summary
Higher levels of bioavailable testosterone are linked to better cognitive function in older men. Bioavailable testosterone may be more indicative of hormone availability to the brain, suggesting a potential role in maintaining cognitive health.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Estrogen's positive impact on cognitive function in older women is documented.
- Limited research exists on sex hormones and cognition in older men.
- Testosterone's role, directly or via estrogen conversion, in male cognition is hypothesized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum testosterone and estradiol levels and cognitive function in older men.
- To explore the relationship between bioavailable sex hormones and cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional, population-based study of 310 older men (mean age 73.0).
- Cognitive function assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trails B, and Digit Symbol.
- Serum sex hormone levels (testosterone, estradiol, SHBG) measured by radioimmunoassay and analyzed by tertile.
Main Results:
- No consistent association between total testosterone and cognitive scores.
- Higher bioavailable testosterone levels correlated with better performance on all cognitive tests (P < .001).
- Total estradiol was linked to worse scores on Digit Symbol and Trails B; SHBG was negatively associated with all cognitive tests. Adjustments reduced significance for bioavailable testosterone and SHBG.
Conclusions:
- Higher bioavailable testosterone, not bioavailable estradiol, is associated with better cognitive function in older men.
- Bioavailable testosterone measures may better reflect hormone availability to the brain for central nervous system outcomes.
- Further research, including randomized trials, is needed to confirm testosterone's protective role against cognitive decline in aging men.
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