Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels are associated with more favorable cognitive function in women.
BACKGROUND
It has been proposed that dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) exert neuroprotective effects in the brain, yet evidence of associations between the endogenous levels of these steroids and measures of cognitive function is lacking.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to investigate whether circulating levels of DHEAS independently contribute to aspects of cognitive function in women in the community.


METHODS
This was a community-based, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Two hundred ninety-five women, aged 21-77 yr, were recruited from a community-based data set and participated between September 2003 and December 2004. Women were excluded if they reported any health condition that might potentially adversely affect cognitive function.


METHODS
The individual scores of a comprehensive battery of tests of cognitive function and the serum level of DHEAS (square root transformed) were measured.


RESULTS
In the multiple linear regression analysis, the DHEAS term made a significant independent positive contribution to the Controlled Oral Word Association Test score, a measure of executive function. In addition, women with a DHEAS level in the highest tertile who also had more than 12 yr of education performed better on both Digit Span Forward and Digit Span Backward tests, which are tests of simple concentration and working memory, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher endogenous DHEAS levels are independently and favorably associated with executive function, concentration, and working memory.
Davis
Susan R
SR
Women's Health Program, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical School, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia. susan.davis@med.monash.edu.au
Shah
Sonal M
SM
McKenzie
Dean P
DP
Kulkarni
Jayashri
J
Davison
Sonia L
SL
Bell
Robin J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged
D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate