Sex hormones and brain volumes in a longitudinal study of middle-aged men in the CARDIA study.
Abstract
Several findings suggest that testosterone (T) is neuroprotective and that declining T levels during aging are associated with cognitive and brain pathologies; however, little is known on T and brain health in middle-age. We examined the relationships of total T, bioavailable T, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels with total and regional gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes in middle-aged men. We also evaluated the association of sex hormone levels with cognitive function. Analysis included 267 community-dwelling men participating in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) substudy. Total T, bioavailable T, and SHBG levels were measured at three times from the 2nd to 4th decade of life; brain volumes were measured at the ages of 42-56. Associations were estimated using linear regression models, adjusted for several potential confounders. Higher SHBG levels were associated with greater total WM volume (+3.15 cm3 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01, 6.28] per one standard deviation higher SHBG). Higher SHBG levels were associated with lower total and regional GM volumes overall and significantly with smaller parietal GM volume (-0.96 cm3 [95%CI = -...Continue Reading
References
Associations between gonadotropins, testosterone and β amyloid in men at risk of Alzheimer's disease
Citations
Methods Mentioned
Software Mentioned
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Aging-Associated Metabolic Disorders
Age is associated with many metabolic disorders including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease. The mediators in aging process have been suggested to play a part in the cellular processes responsible for these metabolic disorders. Here is the latest research on aging-associated metabolic disorders.
Brain Aging
Here is the latest research on intrinsic and extrinsic factors, as well as pathways and mechanisms that underlie aging in the central nervous system.