A randomized trial of the effect of testosterone and estrogen on verbal fluency, verbal memory, and spatial ability in healthy postmenopausal women
Received 7 April 2010; received in revised form 26 May 2010; accepted 27 May 2010. published online 29 July 2010. Corrected Proof
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.
Women's health clinical research unit at a university hospital.
Patient(s)
Two-hundred healthy, naturally postmenopausal women aged 50–65 years.
Intervention(s)
Randomization to 4 weeks' treatment with testosterone (testosterone undecanoate, 40 mg/day), estrogen (oral E2 2 mg/day) or placebo.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Comparisons in verbal fluency, verbal memory, and spatial ability between the three treatment groups.
Result(s)
We found no significant effects of testosterone or estrogen on verbal fluency, verbal memory, or spatial ability.
Conclusion(s)
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.
aDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
bDepartment of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm, Sweden
cDepartment of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Reprint requests: Angelica Lindén Hirschberg, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden (FAX: 46-8-5177-4252)
Supported by the Swedish Research Council (No. 20324), Karolinska Institutet, Jan Wallander and Tom Hedelius Foundation, and the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research.
L. K-M. has nothing to disclose. N.Z. has nothing to disclose. A.F.R. has nothing to disclose. T.E. has nothing to disclose. B.v.S. has nothing to disclose. M.J. has nothing to disclose. A.L.H. has nothing to disclose.
ABSTRACT