Mood symptoms and cognitive performance in women estrogen users and nonusers and men.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have suggested sex differences in mood and cognition and that estrogen effects may partially explain such differences. In this study, we explore sex differences for a range of mood symptoms and for neuropsychological performance in men and postmenopausal women and assess the potential influence of estrogen on these measures.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of men and women examining mood, neuropsychological test data, and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) use.


METHODS
Outpatient study at an urban teaching hospital with subjects recruited from the community.


METHODS
All subjects (N = 96) were between the ages of 57 and 75 and included 31 women using ERT, 16 non-ERT users, and 49 men. Subjects did not have major depression and were nondemented.


METHODS
The three groups were compared according to profile of mood states and neuropsychological performance, and statistical analyses were controlled for socioeconomic status, age, and education level.


RESULTS
Female ERT users were less depressed and less angry and performed better on measures of verbal fluency and working memory than the other subject groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal estrogen use is associated with better mood and cognitive performance on tasks of fluency and working memory. These results suggest that estrogen should be examined as a potentially critical variable influencing late-life sex differences in mood and cognition.
Miller
Karen J
KJ
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, the Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. kmiller@mednet.ucla.edu
Conney
Janet C
JC
Rasgon
Natalie L
NL
Fairbanks
Lynn A
LA
Small
Gary W
GW
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors