title: The effect of short-term estradiol therapy on cognitive function in older men receiving hormonal suppression therapy for prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of estrogen (E) alone (without the influence of testosterone (T)) on cognitive function in older men, using 17-beta micronized estradiol versus placebo in older men rendered hypogonadal (low T and E) by treatment for prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Short-term double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outpatient General Clinical Research Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven community-dwelling men aged 65 and older receiving neoadjuvant or established therapy with luteinizing-hormone releasing-hormone agonists for treatment of prostate cancer enrolled in a short-term randomized, controlled trial of 17-beta micronized estradiol versus placebo on the effect on biochemical markers of bone turnover.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hormone levels, including E, T, and sex hormone-binding globulin; standardized neurocognitive tests, including measures of sustained attention, executive function, and memory; and questionnaires to assess subjects' perception of cognitive deficits and symptoms of depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between patients receiving E or placebo on 15 of 17 neurocognitive measures and no significant differences in self-reported cognitive deficits or number of depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although studies have suggested that E replacement therapy may improve cognitive function, most notably memory performance in postmenopausal woman, there was no evidence in the present study that the addition of short-term E therapy was more beneficial than placebo in tests of cognitive performance in hypogonadal men.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA. taxel@nso.uchc.edu
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taxel
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trahiotis
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol