A prospective study of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and cognitive function in an older population: the Rancho Bernardo Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether low plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels predict poor cognitive function in the elderly.


METHODS
A prospective, population-based study with periodic clinical evaluations and 100% follow-up for vital status.


METHODS
Rancho Bernardo, California


METHODS
270 men and 167 women (80% of surviving, local, age-eligible subjects) from the Rancho Bernardo cohort who had plasma obtained for DHEAS assays in 1972 to 1974 and screening for dementia in 1988 to 1991.


METHODS
DHEAS levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. There were five interviewer-administered standard screening tests of cognitive function: Mini-Mental Status Examination, Buschke selective reminding test, Trails B, category fluency, and Heaton Visual Reproduction test.


RESULTS
DHEAS levels were higher in men than women and decreased with age in both sexes. There were no significant differences in age-adjusted DHEAS levels in the percent of men or women with categorically impaired performance on any test. When analyzed as a continuous variable, DHEAS levels were significantly correlated with only one test, the Bushke, and only in women. Low baseline DHEAS levels were not associated with any mention of dementia on death certificates or with non-participation of survivors. Low levels of DHEAS predicted mortality in men more than in women such that men were more likely to have died before cognitive function testing than women.


CONCLUSIONS
The single DHEAS-memory association, restricted to women, is most likely to be spurious, consequent to multiple comparisons. We cannot exclude a true effect of low DHEAS, restricted to women and reflecting their better survival than men.
Barrett-Connor
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Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0607.
Edelstein
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SL
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone