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Cognitive FunctionScientific literature reflects the heightened interest in cognitive impairment issues. Various factors affect brain function and memory loss. For example, low vitamin B and high homocysteine concentrations predict cognitive decline. Lower levels of insulin and lower levels of its related proteins produced in the brain contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Another stage identified—mild cognitive impairment (MCI)—reflects the clinical condition between normal aging and AD, where more memory loss than expected for age is displayed. Prevention is the focus. Review current research and medical articles on brain function and memory loss prevention, some of which examine hormonal treatment as a protective measure.
The results of this study suggest
that in healthy older men,
beneficial changes in cognitive
function induced by T
supplementation are most evident
with moderate changes in cognition
from moderate to high T
supplementation increases in T
levels. Large or no to low increases
in T levels do not appear to
appreciably affect cognition.
This article, which quotes Dr. Alan
Mintz, describes the increased use
of human growth hormone by aging but
relatively healthy people who hope
to improve the quality, and perhaps
the length, of their lives. It
includes discussion for and against
the use of growth hormone. Fruit and Vegetable Juices and Alzheimer's Disease: The Kame Project.pdf
This study concluded that fruit and
vegetable juices may play an
important role in delaying the onset
of Alzheimer's disease, particularly
among those who are at high risk for
the disease. These results may lead
to a new avenue of inquiry in the
prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Debate Flaring up Over Use of Dementia Screening.pdf
According to this article,
organizations that issue screening
guidelines should consider seriously
whether physicians should discuss
dementia with patients at age 50 and
initiate annual dementia screening
in those older than 75. This is
according to a perspective piece
published in April of 2006 in
Alzheimer's & Dementia, the Journal
of the Alzheimer's Assn. At
a major Alzheimer's Association
meeting in Madrid, researchers
behind the Veterans Administration
Puget Sound Health Care System
experiment in Seattle and other
experts are making a strong case
that diabetes hammers not just the
body but the mind. Indeed, it may be
a precursor to Alzheimer's. As blood
sugar control gets worse in
diabetics, Alzheimer's risk climbs
astronomically, one study found.
Prevalence of Hypogonadism in Males
Aged at Least 45 Years: The HIM
study.pdf Testosterone Aromatization and Cognition in Women: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.pdf
This study did not observe any
effects of aromatase inhibition on
cognition in healthy,
estrogen-treated postmenopausal
women treated with testosterone.
This may be due to insufficient
study power or a true lack of
effect. However, the findings
highlight that the detection of
subtle changes in cognition in well
women require the development of
sensitive instruments and large
randomized, controlled trials.
According to this study, findings
suggest that consuming coffee
reduces cognitive decline in elderly
men. An inverse and J-shaped
association may exist between the
number of cups of coffee consumed
and cognitive decline, with the
least cognitive decline for men
consuming three cups of coffee per
day. Management of Andropause: The Male Menopause.pdf
According to this article,
andropause is a syndrome of
physical, sexual, and psychological
symptoms in aging men due to a
gradual decline in serum
testosterone levels. Its symptoms
are more prominent in the presence
of concomitant medical disorders.
Testosterone replacement therapy
relieves these symptoms along with
improvement in bone and muscle mass,
sexual function, and quality of
life. Testosterone Aids Cognitive Function in Men with Memory Deficits.pdf
Testosterone supplementation
improves spatial memory and
constructional abilities in older
men with Alzheimer's disease (AD)
and mild cognitive impairment,
according to investigators. Scientists Believe Type 3 Diabetes Uncovered.pdf
After discovering that insulin and
its related proteins are produced in
the brain and that reduced levels of
both contribute to Alzheimer’s,
scientists believe they may have
found a new type of Diabetes.
This review details what is
currently known about insulin,
insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I)
and IGF-II proteins and their
corresponding receptors in the
brain, and delineates the major
controversies pertaining to
alterations in the expression and
function of these molecules in AD. Experts Consider HT for Younger Women.pdf
Questions still persist after the
release of the July 2002 Women’s
Health Initiative findings regarding
hormone therapy. Researchers have
been looking at the data to see if
certain changes in dosage or
initiation age could still provide
benefits to women.
Male Hormones Could Help Slow Aging in Men, WU Doctor Says.pdf
According to this article, the
natural medical response to
decreasing testosterone in men is to
want to replenish low hormone
levels. Yet no large-scale study has
done for men what the massive
Women's Health Initiative did for
women: Investigate the effects of
replacing important sex hormones in
the aging. But as demographic shifts
bring an increasingly older
population, male hormone replacement
therapy, or HRT, is becoming a
priority. Endogenous Sex Hormone Levels and Cognitive Function in Aging Men: Is There an Optimal Level?.pdf
The objective of this article is to
determine whether endogenous sex
hormone levels are associated with
cognitive functioning in men. Endogenous Sex Hormones and Metabolic Syndrome in Aging Men.pdf
This study concluded that higher
testosterone and SHBG levels in
aging males are independently
associated with a higher insulin
sensitivity and a reduced risk of
the metabolic syndrome, independent
of insulin levels and body
composition measurements, suggesting
that these hormones may protect
against the development of metabolic
syndrome. Workouts Can Lighten Heavy Hearts.pdf
According to this article, the
millions of Americans stricken each
year by debilitating depression may
want to consider running away from
their problem -- or walking,
swimming or dancing it away. Homocysteine and Folate as Risk Factors for Dementia and Alzheimer Disease.pdf
The conclusion of this study was
that elevated plasma tHcy
concentrations and low serum folate
concentrations are independent
predictors of the development of
dementia and AD.
This study concluded that low B
vitamin and high homocysteine
concentrations predict cognitive
decline. Spatial copying measures
appear to be most sensitive to these
effects in a general population of
aging men. Midlife Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Risk of Dementia in Late Life.pdf
The aim of this study was to
evaluate if midlife cardiovascular
risk factors are associated with
risk of late-life dementia in a
large, diverse cohort. It concluded
that the presence of multiple
cardiovascular risk factors at
midlife substantially increases risk
of late-life dementia in a dose
dependent manner. Obesity in Middle Age and Future Risk of Dementia: A 27 Year Longitudinal Population Based Study.pdf
The objective of this study was to
evaluate any association between
obesity in middle age, measured by
body mass index and skinfold
thickness, and risk of dementia
later in life. It concluded that
obesity in middle age increases the
risk of future dementia
independently of comorbid
conditions.
The Women’s Health Initiative 2004 –
Review and Critique.pdf Free Testosterone and Risk for Alzheimer Disease in Older Men.pdf
The results of a recent study
revealed a link between low
testosterone levels and potential
for future onset of Alzheimer’s.
Researchers found that men with
Alzheimer disease had a lower
testosterone level prior to the
diagnosis. Future research results
may offer protection against a
diagnosis of Alzheimer disease in
aging men.
The results of this naturalistic
study indicate that chemical
castration is associated with a
significant rise in the plasma
levels of Abeta and, clinically,
with increased depression and
anxiety scores. The discontinuation
of treatment is associated with
better cognitive performance, most
noticeably of verbal memory. The
performance of subjects on the WL
test was negatively correlated with
plasma levels of Abeta, but the
clinical significance of this
finding remains to be determined.
Formulations and Use of Androgens in
Women.pdf
According to this study, for women
aged 65 years or older, hormone
therapy had an adverse effect on
cognition, which was greater among
women with lower cognitive function
at initiation of treatment. Testosterone and Alzheimer Disease: Is it Men's Turn Now?.pdf No abstract available. Henderson, V.W. & Hogervorst, E. (2004). Testosterone and Alzheimer disease: is it men's turn now? [Electronic version]. Neurology, 62(2), 170-171. Retrieved November 18, 2005.
The results of this study help, in
part, to explain DHEA's complex
effects on cognition. The diverse
effects of sex steroids across tasks
underscore the importance of
identifying the specific cognitive
mechanisms influenced by sex
steroids and emphasizes that one
should not expect sex steroids to
produce homogeneous effects across
cognitive tasks. Potential Anabolic Effects of Androgens on Bone.pdf
With the decrease of estrogen at
menopause, the need for androgens
increases in post-menopausal women.
Androgens also appear to be
important for the bone health of
women who are pre-menopausal.
Review by
Amazon.com of Suzanne Somers’
book The Sexy Years: Discover the
Hormone Connection: The Secret to
Fabulous Sex, Great Health, and
Vitality, for Women and Men.
Hot Flashes and Androgens: A Biological Rationale for Clinical Practice.pdf
This article discusses the important
role androgens play in the treatment
of hot flashes. It also emphasizes
the need to individualize treatment
for menopausal women. Low Androgenization Index in Elderly Women and Elderly Men with Alzheimer's Disease.pdf
The authors of this study
investigated whether testosterone
levels and testosterone availability
differ between older lean subjects
with and without Alzheimer's disease
(AD). Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
and estradiol levels were higher,
whereas the free androgenization
index (FAI) was lower, in lean
subjects with AD than in lean
subjects without AD. Factors
involved in the increase of SHBG
secretion could have an important
role in the lower testosterone
availability of subjects with AD. Risks of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy and Recommendations for Monitoring.pdf
According to this study,
hypogonadism affects an estimated 2
million to 4 million men
in the United States;
its prevalence increases with age.
However, it has been estimated that
only 5 percent of
affected men currently
receive treatment. Recent interest
in
testosterone therapy has been fueled
not only by increased medical
awareness of the
effects of hypogonadism, but also by
media
attention regarding
hormone-replacement therapy in both
men and
women, the marketing of new topical
testosterone formulations,
and the desire of "baby
boomers" to maintain vigor and
health into
their more mature years. Age-Related Testosterone Depletion and the Development of Alzheimer Disease.pdf
This study observed that brain
levels of testosterone but not
estradiol were inversely correlated
with age in men aged 50
to 97 years who were
diagnosed as neuropathologically
normal.
This study concluded that estrogen
therapy alone did not reduce
dementia or MCI incidence and
increased the risk for both end
points combined. Pooling data for
estrogen alone and estrogen plus
progestin resulted in increased
risks for both end points. Use of
hormone therapy to prevent dementia
or cognitive decline in women 65
years of age or older is not
recommended. Diabetes Mellitus and Risk of Dementia in the Kungsholmen Project: A 6-Year Follow-up Study.pdf
The authors of this study
investigated the relationship
between diabetes mellitus and risk
of dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD),
and vascular dementia (VaD). They
concluded that diabetes mellitus
increases the risk of dementia, and
VaD in particular, in very old
people. The risk for dementia and
VaD is especially high when diabetes
mellitus occurs together with severe
systolic hypertension or heart
disease. Reduced Risk of Alzheimer Disease in Users of Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements.pdf
This study concludes that use of
vitamin E and vitamin C supplements
in combination is associated with
reduced prevalence and incidence of
AD. Antioxidant supplements merit
further study as agents for the
primary prevention of AD. Does Testosterone Boost an Actor's Oscar Odds?.pdf
Testosterone surges may be one of
the factors that separate
Oscar-winners like Jack Nicholson
and Al Pacino from aspiring actors
whose careers never get off the
ground, new study findings suggest.
The preliminary observations report
for the first time in double-blind
fashion the efficacy of DHEA
augmentation in the management of
negative, depressive, and anxiety
symptoms of schizophrenia. The
findings from this study raise
important issues regarding the role
of neurosteroids in general, and
DHEA in particular, in the ongoing
symptomatology and pharmacotherapy
of schizophrenia.
This small pilot study performed in
aging male patients suggests that
testosterone could indeed improve
cognition, including visual-spatial
skills in mild to moderate
Alzheimer's disease. Can Growth Hormone Prevent Aging?.pdf
This article
cites the article by Rudman et al.
that appeared in the Journal in 1990
that reported the effect on body
composition of administering human
growth hormone for six months to 12
older men. This article incited a
proliferation of "antiaging" clinics
and lay publications, such as "Grow
Young with HGH," extolling the
benefits of growth hormone in
reversing or preventing aging. DHEA Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.pdf
This study concluded that DHEA did
not significantly improve cognitive
performance or overall ratings of
change in severity in this
small-scale pilot study. A transient
effect on cognitive performance may
have been seen at month 3, but
narrowly missed significance. Serum Total Testosterone is Lower in Men with Alzheimer's Disease.pdf
The purpose of this study was to
determine whether the level of serum
total testosterone (TT) was
different in cases of Dementia of
the Alzheimer's Type (DAT) than in
controls. It concluded that
prospective longitudinal studies
should investigate whether low TT
levels precede or follow the onset
of DAT.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I)
Protects Cells from Apoptosis by
Alzheimer's V642I Mutant Amyloid
Precursor Protein Through IGF-I
Receptor in an IGF-Binding
Protein-Sensitive Manner.pdf
According to this article, while no
treatments are recommended for MCI
currently, clinical trials regarding
potential therapies are under way.
Recommendations concerning ethical
issues in the diagnosis and the
management of subjects with MCI were
made. Personal Business; Trying to Roll Back the Biological Clock, for a Price.pdf
This article, written soon after
September 11th,
says that Americans have been
re-evaluating their priorities since
the attacks, and for some people
that means paying closer attention
to their health. There has even been
a rise in interest in so-called
anti-aging clinics. It discusses
several clinics, including
Cenegenics. Do Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help in Depression?. pdf
This study concluded that despite
observational evidence linking
depression with reduced intake of
long-chain omega-3 fatty acids,
there is no convincing basis for
using these nutrients as a sole
treatment for the condition. There
is limited evidence suggesting that
long-chain omega-3 fatty acid
supplements might help to relieve
depression when given in addition to
existing antidepressantmedication.
However, this needs confirming
before they can recommend the
routine use of such supplements in
patients with depression. Growth Hormone Increases Connexin-43 Expression in the Cerebral Cortex and Hypothalamus.pdf
These results of this study show
that administration of bGH increases
the abundance of cx43 in specific
brain regions, suggesting that GH
may influence gap junction formation
and thereby intercellular
communication in the brain. In
this study, GH response, but not
IGF-1, was inversely correlated with
body mass index. The results are in
accordance with previous research
suggesting a disruption of the
relation between IGF-1 and GH
secretion in older age.
This study concludes that DHEA
replacement improves well-being and
sexuality in women with adrenal
insufficiency. If this is due to a
direct effect of DHEA on the brain,
an indirect effect via increased
androgen synthesis, or both, remains
to be elucidated. Long-term studies
in patients of both sexes are needed
to further define the role of DHEA
in standard replacement for adrenal
insufficiency. Neurosteroids: Biosynthesis and Function of These Novel Neuromodulators.pdf
This paper summarizes what is known
about the biosynthesis of
neurosteroids, the enzymes mediating
these reactions, their localization
during development and in the adult,
and their function and mechanisms of
action in the developing and adult
central and peripheral nervous
systems.
Testosterone Reduces Neuronal
Secretion of Alzheimer's
Beta-Amyloid Peptides.pdf
The conclusion of this prospective
study was that higher serum total
IGF-I levels and higher total IGF-I/IGFBP-3
ratios, but not higher free IGF-I
levels, were associated with less
cognitive decline over the following
2 yr. Circulating total IGF-I levels
may reflect an underlying biological
process that influences cognitive
decline. Testosterone Therapy in Men: An Update.pdf
This article discusses that because
testosterone levels decline with
age, and aging is accompanied by
body changes including loss of
muscle and increases in fat, there
is great interest in the potential
benefits of testosterone
administration in elderly men.
The circadian organization of
adrenal secretion was studied in 23
healthy elderly subjects, 23 elderly
demented patients and 10 healthy
young subjects, in order to
investigate the relationships
between the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
and some cerebral morphometric
parameters. The data from this study
may suggest the existence of a link
between the selective impairment of
cortisol secretion and DHEAs levels,
and the progression of hippocampal
degeneration. Endogenous Estrogen Levels and Alzheimer's Disease Among Postmenopausal Women.pdf
The results of this preliminary
case-control study suggest that
estradiol levels may decline
significantly in women in whom AD
develops.
According to this article, GH
receptors in the hypothalamus are
likely to be involved in the
regulatory mechanism for hormone
secretion and those located in the
choroid plexus have been suggested
to have a role in the
receptor-mediated transport of GH
across the BBB. The functions
mediated by the GH receptors
identified in the hippocampus are
not yet known but recently it was
speculated that they may be involved
in the hormone's action on memory
and cognitive functions. Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I and Cognitive Function in Adults.pdf
This review focuses on the possible
contribution of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like
growth factor I (IGF-I) axis to
cognitive function. Effects of two
years of growth hormone (GH)
replacement therapy on bone
metabolism and mineral density in
childhood and adulthood onset GH
deficient patients.
Insulin-Like
Growth Factor-I and Cognitive
Function in Healthy Older Men.pdf Risks Versus Benefits of Testosterone Therapy in Elderly Men.pdf
This review discusses the pros and
cons of testosterone replacement in
hypogonadal elderly men and attempts
to answer some of the unanswered
questions. Furthermore, emphasis is
made on the regular follow-up of
these patients to prevent the
development of therapy-related
complications. Neuroactive Steroids: Mechanisms of Action and Neuropsychopharmacological Perspectives.pdf
This article describes how
neuroactive steroids modulate
neurotransmitter receptors and
addresses the
neuropsychopharmacological potential
that arises from the intracellular
crosstalk between genomic and
nongenomic steroid effects.
Neuroactive steroids could also have
a role in the response to stress and
the treatment of psychiatric
disorders, such as depression, and,
as they affect a broad spectrum of
behavioral functions through their
unique molecular properties, they
could constitute a yet unexploited
class of drugs. Psychosexual Effects of Menopause: Role of Androgens.pdf
The effects of androgens in the
brain are mediated through
androgen-specific receptors and by
the aromatization of testosterone to
estradiol. Alterations in the
circulating levels of androgens play
an important role in psychologic and
sexual changes that occur after
menopause. Postmenopausal Estrogen Replacement Therapy and Risk of AD: A Population-Based Study.pdf
The objective was to study the
association between estrogen
replacement therapy in
postmenopausal women and AD using a
case-control design. These results
from a population-based study
suggest that estrogen replacement
therapy is associated with a reduced
risk of AD in postmenopausal women. Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adulthood and the Effects of Growth Hormone Replacement: A Review.pdf
The importance of GH throughout
adult life is now unequivocally
accepted.
GH deficiency is recognized to
result in alterations in body
composition,
physical performance,
psychological well-being, and
substrate
metabolism. Many of these
alterations can be improved or
corrected
with GH replacement. The prospect
of GH replacement becoming routine,
however, does raise a number of
issues.
This study was aimed at
investigating the possible
correlations between the
age-dependent GH-IGF-I axis decline
and the cognitive function -
assessed by the Mini Mental State
Examination (MMSE).
This study concludes that diabetics
with dementia rarely have AD except
as a component of mixed dementia.
Apo-E genotyping showed only average
E4 allele frequency in diabetics
compared with the high E4 frequency
found in AD patients. However, mixed
dementia in diabetics may be
associated with the E4 allele,
suggesting that close control of
diabetes may be particularly
important for those with E4 since
they may be more likely than others
to develop both diseases. Estrogen Replacement Therapy in Older Women: A Neuropsychological and Brain MRI Study.pdf
This study demonstrates an
association between estrogen
replacement therapy and better
cognitive functioning and a lower
rate of clinically unsuspected
ischemic brain damage in
postmenopausal women. Effect of Oestrogen During Menopause on Risk and Age at Onset of Alzheimer's Disease.pdf
The interpretation of this study is
that oestrogen use in postmenopausal
women may delay the onset and
decrease the risk of Alzheimer's
disease. Prospective studies are
needed to establish the dose and
duration of oestrogen required to
provide this benefit and to assess
its safety in elderly postmenopausal
women. Steroidogenic Enzyme P450c17 is Expressed in the Embryonic Central Nervous System.pdf
According to this study, the sites
of P450c17 expression in the
peripheral nervous system suggest it
may be involved in a wide variety of
sensory-motor functions. In the
central nervous system, cell bodies
expressing P450c17 are found in the
hind brain, in mesencephalic nuclei,
and in a region in the location of
the locus coeruleus, but in cells
distinct from those expressing the
dopamine-beta-hydroxylase.
Furthermore, its particular location
and temporal expression in axons
reaching the cortical areas suggest
it is a marker for the axonal growth
in this region, and that its
neurosteroid product may be a signal
for targeting cortical axons during
embryogenesis. Sex Hormones and Psychological Functioning in Postmenopausal Women.pdf
According to this paper, women who
seek medical care around the time of
menopause frequently report changes
in one or more aspects of
psychological functioning. The
etiology of these symptoms is likely
multifactorial and, undoubtedly,
individual and sociocultural factors
are important determinants.
Growth Hormone Therapy in the
Elderly: Implications for the Aging
Brain.pdf
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