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Brain lesions on MRI and endogenous sex hormones in elderly men

Fumiko Irie1, D Strozyk, R Peila

  • 1National Institute on Aging, Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, Gateway Building, Room 3C-309, 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Neurobiology of Aging
|July 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Higher testosterone and estradiol levels are linked to increased brain atrophy and lacunes in older Japanese-American men. Conversely, higher sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) showed a protective effect against these brain changes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Endogenous sex hormones play a role in brain health.
  • Age-related changes in hormone levels may influence neurodegenerative processes.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for geriatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between endogenous sex hormones and MRI-detected brain lesions in elderly Japanese-American men.
  • To determine if specific hormones like testosterone, estradiol, or SHBG are associated with cerebral atrophy or lacunes.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving Japanese-American men aged 74-95 years.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to detect brain lesions.
  • Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess associations between hormone levels and MRI outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Increased risk of cerebral atrophy was associated with the highest tertile of testosterone (OR 3.1).
  • Higher levels of 17beta-estradiol correlated with an increased risk of lacunes (OR 1.92).
  • Elevated sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were associated with a reduced risk of both cerebral atrophy and lacunes.

Conclusions:

  • Specific endogenous sex hormones, namely testosterone and estradiol, are associated with increased risks of cerebral atrophy and lacunes in older men.
  • Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) may have a neuroprotective role, reducing the risk of these brain lesions.
  • Findings suggest potential links between hormonal status and neurodegenerative changes in aging brains.

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