Testosterone improves spatial memory in men with Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of testosterone (T) supplementation on cognition in a sample of men with Alzheimer disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).


METHODS
Fifteen patients with AD and 17 patients with MCI aged 63 to 85 years completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nineteen participants received weekly intramuscular (IM) injections of 100 mg T enanthate and 13 participants received weekly injections of placebo (saline) for 6 weeks. Cognitive evaluations using a battery of neuropsychological tests were conducted at baseline, week 3, and week 6 of treatment and again after 6 weeks of washout.


RESULTS
Peak serum total T levels were raised from baseline an average of 295% in the active treatment group. Improvements in spatial memory (p < 0.05) and constructional abilities (p < 0.05) and verbal memory were evident in the T group. No changes were noted for selective and divided attention or language. Prostate specific antigen did not significantly change during this brief treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Testosterone supplementation may benefit selective cognitive functions in men with Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA. cherrier@u.washington.edu
M M
MM
Cherrier
A M
AM
Matsumoto
J K
JK
Amory
S
S
Asthana
W
W
Bremner
E R
ER
Peskind
M A
MA
Raskind
S
S
Craft
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013739:Testosterone