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Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies
Published on: January 10, 2025
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Cognitive functioning in older transgender individuals receiving long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy
Jason O van Heesewijk1,2,3, Koen M A Dreijerink1,2, Chantal M Wiepjes1,2
1Endocrinology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
International Journal of Transgender Health
|February 21, 2025
Summary
Older transgender women showed lower cognitive functioning than cisgender groups, largely due to mental/social health factors. Cognitive differences in transgender men were minimal, suggesting no significant long-term hormone therapy effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Cognitive function declines with age, cardiovascular risk (CVR), and mental health issues.
- Sex hormones may offer neuroprotection.
- Limited data exists on cognitive function in older transgender individuals on long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy (GHT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cognitive differences in larger samples of older transgender and cisgender individuals.
- To determine the contribution of CVR and mental/social health to these cognitive differences.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing 73 transgender women and 39 transgender men (ages 56-84) on GHT with matched cisgender controls.
- Cognitive functioning assessed using neuropsychological tests.
- Linear regression analyzed mean z-scores, adjusted for CVR and mental/social health factors.
Main Results:
- Transgender women scored lower than cisgender groups in information-processing speed, episodic memory, and crystallized intelligence.
- Transgender men showed lower episodic memory than cisgender women, but similar to cisgender men.
- Mental/social health factors, especially depressive symptoms, largely explained cognitive differences, while CVR factors had a smaller impact.
Conclusions:
- Minimal cognitive differences in transgender men suggest no significant long-term testosterone effects.
- Lower cognitive functioning in transgender women was primarily linked to mental/social health.
- Further research and clinical attention to mental and cognitive health in older transgender individuals are warranted.
Keywords:
Agingcardiovascular riskepisodic memoryestradiol therapymental and social healthtestosterone therapyMore Related Videos
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