Luteinizing hormone levels are positively correlated with plasma amyloid-beta protein levels in elderly men.
Dysregulation of the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis during aging has been associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and developing dementia. Compared to controls, men with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been shown to have lower serum testosterone levels and higher serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. As serum free testosterone concentration is negatively correlated with LH in older men, the independent contributions of these hormones to the pathogenesis of AD warrants further clarification. To explore this notion, we measured plasma amyloid-beta (Abeta), serum testosterone, serum LH and other biochemical parameters in 40 cognitively normal elderly men. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that serum LH concentration is the only parameter that significantly correlates with plasma Abeta levels in these men (r=0.5, p=0.041). These results suggest that increased serum LH concentration, rather than lower serum free testosterone, is associated with the accumulation of Abeta in plasma. Larger, longitudinal human studies are needed to determine the significance of LH in the pathogenesis of AD.
Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Giuseppe
G
Verdile
Bu B
BB
Yeap
Roger M
RM
Clarnette
Satvinder
S
Dhaliwal
Melanie S
MS
Burkhardt
S A Paul
SA
Chubb
Karl
K
De Ruyck
Mark
M
Rodrigues
Pankaj D
PD
Mehta
Jonathan K
JK
Foster
David G
DG
Bruce
Ralph N
RN
Martins
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone