title: A randomized trial of the effect of testosterone and estrogen on verbal fluency, verbal memory, and spatial ability in healthy postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the causal relationship between sex hormones and cognitive skills in postmenopausal women. We hypothesized that testosterone would decrease verbal memory and verbal fluency and increase spatial ability compared with a placebo. For estrogen, we conversely hypothesized that the treatment would increase verbal fluency and verbal memory and decrease spatial ability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women's health clinical research unit at a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred healthy, naturally postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomization to 4 weeks' treatment with testosterone (testosterone undecanoate, 40 mg/day), estrogen (oral E2 2 mg/day) or placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparisons in verbal fluency, verbal memory, and spatial ability between the three treatment groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no significant effects of testosterone or estrogen on verbal fluency, verbal memory, or spatial ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results give no support for short-term testosterone or estrogen treatment having any substantial effect on verbal fluency, verbal memory, or spatial ability in healthy postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kocoska-Maras
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zethraeus
authors.forename: Angelique Flöter
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Rådestad
authors.forename: Tore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ellingsen
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von Schoultz
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johannesson
authors.forename: Angelica Lindén
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hirschberg
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D013739:Testosterone