Androgen effects on cognition: congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Cognitive studies of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) patients have revealed (1) the presence of an IQ advantage in patients, siblings and parents due to socioeconomic status, genetic, hormonal, or other factors; (2) an IQ disadvantage in salt wasters compared with simple virilizers, probably due to early brain damage secondary to salt-wasting crisis; (3) a possibly increased incidence of learning disabilities, particularly in female patients and particularly for calculation abilities, due to disease-related early androgen exposure; and (4) a possible post-pubertal spatial advantage in CAH women, also due to early androgen exposure.