Do testosterone levels relate to aggression in elderly men with dementia?
The aim of this study was to determine if testosterone and estrogen levels correlate with aggression in older men with dementia. Plasma total and free testosterone and estrogen levels and scores for behavioral disturbances, in particular aggression, were measured in 50 elderly males who had a diagnosis of dementia. Aggression was analyzed separately from agitation. Pearson correlations were calculated to determine the association between testosterone and estrogen and aggression. Linear regression analyses determined the influence of hormone levels on aggression, controlling for age, medical burden, and dementia severity. Free testosterone levels showed significant positive correlations with measures of aggression. Estrogen levels showed significant negative correlations with measures of aggression.
Orengo
Claudia
C
Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. corengo@bcm.tmc.edu
Kunik
Mark E
ME
Molinari
Victor
V
Wristers
Kimberly
K
Yudofsky
Stuart C
SC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D004967:Estrogens; D013739:Testosterone