Sex hormones and their impact on dementia and depression: a clinical perspective.
Sex hormones have often been associated with changes in behavioural and mental abilities. This paper reviews the scientific literature published between 1990 and 2000 investigating the effects of oestrogen, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on depression and dementia. Oestrogen seems to have a positive effect in preventing, but not treating, Alzheimer's disease. Oestrogen use may also improve mood amongst women with postnatal or perimenopausal depression; however, it may contribute to increasing depressive symptoms in women with premenstrual dysphoria. The behavioural effects of testosterone and DHEA remain unclear but the results of preliminary reports suggest that their use is associated with improved mood. At present, there is not enough hard data to support the use of sex hormones and DHEA for the treatment of depression or memory deficits.
Almeida
O P
OP
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6847, Australia. osvalm@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Barclay
L
L
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone