title: Dhea supplementation and cognition in postmenopausal women.
abstract: Previous work has suggested that DHEA supplementation may have adverse cognitive effects in elderly women. This article analyzed 24-h measurements of DHEA, DHEAS, and cortisol to determine if cognitive decrease with treatment is mediated by DHEA's impact on endogenous cortisol. It was found that DHEA administration increased cortisol at several hours during the day. In the treatment group, cortisol was positively associated with cognition at study completion. An increase in negative associations between DHEA(S) levels and cognition was found at completion. Increased cortisol does not explain the cognitive deficits associated with DHEA, suggesting a direct negative effect of exogenous DHEA on cognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7025, USA. tparsons@neurology
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kratz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: F Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Stanczyk
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Buckwalter
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone