The Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Older Men

Reduction in testosterone levels in men during aging is associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia. Animal studies have shown benefits for testosterone supplementation in improving cognition and reducing Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study...

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Main Authors: Wahjoepramono, E., Asih, P., Aniwiyanti, V., Taddei, K., Dhaliwal, S., Fuller, S., Foster, J., Carruthers, M., Verdile, Giuseppe, Sohrabi, H., Martins, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25877
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author Wahjoepramono, E.
Asih, P.
Aniwiyanti, V.
Taddei, K.
Dhaliwal, S.
Fuller, S.
Foster, J.
Carruthers, M.
Verdile, Giuseppe
Sohrabi, H.
Martins, R.
author_facet Wahjoepramono, E.
Asih, P.
Aniwiyanti, V.
Taddei, K.
Dhaliwal, S.
Fuller, S.
Foster, J.
Carruthers, M.
Verdile, Giuseppe
Sohrabi, H.
Martins, R.
author_sort Wahjoepramono, E.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Reduction in testosterone levels in men during aging is associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia. Animal studies have shown benefits for testosterone supplementation in improving cognition and reducing Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study of men with subjective memory complaint and low testosterone levels, we investigated whether testosterone treatment significantly improved performance on various measures of cognitive functioning. Forty-four men were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to establish the baseline prior to being randomly divided into two groups. The first group (Group A) received 24 weeks of testosterone treatment (T treatment) followed by 4 weeks washout, and then 24 weeks of placebo (P); the second group (Group B) received the same treatments, in reverse order (Placebo, washout, and then T treatment). In group A (TèP), compared to baseline, there was a modest (1 point) but significant improvement in general cognitive functioning as measured by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) following testosterone treatment. This improvement from baseline was sustained following the washout period and crossover to placebo treatment. Similar Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were observed when comparing testosterone treatment with placebo. In group B (PèT) a significant increase was observed from baseline following testosterone treatment and a trend towards an increase when compared to placebo treatment. Improvements in baseline depression scores (assessed by Geriatric Depression Scale) were observed following testosterone/placebo treatment in both groups, and no difference was observed when comparing testosterone with placebo treatment. Our findings indicate a modest improvement on global cognition with testosterone treatment. Larger clinical trials with a longer follow-up and with the inclusion of blood and brain imaging markers are now needed to conclusively determine the significance of testosterone treatment.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-258772017-01-30T12:50:40Z The Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Older Men Wahjoepramono, E. Asih, P. Aniwiyanti, V. Taddei, K. Dhaliwal, S. Fuller, S. Foster, J. Carruthers, M. Verdile, Giuseppe Sohrabi, H. Martins, R. Reduction in testosterone levels in men during aging is associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia. Animal studies have shown benefits for testosterone supplementation in improving cognition and reducing Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study of men with subjective memory complaint and low testosterone levels, we investigated whether testosterone treatment significantly improved performance on various measures of cognitive functioning. Forty-four men were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to establish the baseline prior to being randomly divided into two groups. The first group (Group A) received 24 weeks of testosterone treatment (T treatment) followed by 4 weeks washout, and then 24 weeks of placebo (P); the second group (Group B) received the same treatments, in reverse order (Placebo, washout, and then T treatment). In group A (TèP), compared to baseline, there was a modest (1 point) but significant improvement in general cognitive functioning as measured by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) following testosterone treatment. This improvement from baseline was sustained following the washout period and crossover to placebo treatment. Similar Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were observed when comparing testosterone treatment with placebo. In group B (PèT) a significant increase was observed from baseline following testosterone treatment and a trend towards an increase when compared to placebo treatment. Improvements in baseline depression scores (assessed by Geriatric Depression Scale) were observed following testosterone/placebo treatment in both groups, and no difference was observed when comparing testosterone with placebo treatment. Our findings indicate a modest improvement on global cognition with testosterone treatment. Larger clinical trials with a longer follow-up and with the inclusion of blood and brain imaging markers are now needed to conclusively determine the significance of testosterone treatment. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25877 restricted
spellingShingle Wahjoepramono, E.
Asih, P.
Aniwiyanti, V.
Taddei, K.
Dhaliwal, S.
Fuller, S.
Foster, J.
Carruthers, M.
Verdile, Giuseppe
Sohrabi, H.
Martins, R.
The Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Older Men
title The Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Older Men
title_full The Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Older Men
title_fullStr The Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Older Men
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Older Men
title_short The Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Cognitive Functioning in Older Men
title_sort effects of testosterone supplementation on cognitive functioning in older men
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25877