This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Salminen, E. K. Articles by Nurmi, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Salminen, E. K. Articles by Nurmi, M.

Associations between Serum Testosterone Fall and Cognitive Function in Prostate Cancer Patients

¹ Departments of Oncology and Radiotherapy, ² Neurology, and ³ Surgery, Turku University Hospital; and ⁴ Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

Data on the association between cognition and testosterone levels in elderly men are inconclusive. Androgen deprivation therapy is commonly used in the treatment of prostate cancer with the aim of achieving castration levels of serum testosterone. The study group comprised 26 elderly men (mean age 65 years) with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Cognitive testing was done at baseline and at 6 and 12 months on androgen deprivation therapy. Cognitive performances were evaluated using verbal, visuomotor, and memory tests as well as tests of processing speed and attention. Castration levels of testosterone were achieved in all patients by 6 months. Significant associations between cognitive performances and testosterone decline were documented: visuomotor slowing, slowed reaction times in some attentional domains including working memory and impaired hit rate in a vigilance test, impaired delayed recall and recognition speed of letters, but improvement in object recall. The results suggest selective associations between testosterone decline and cognition. Documentation of cognitive performance with changes in serum testosterone levels has substantial implications for informed patient support in prostate cancer.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M. Coates, M. Gurnell, and A. Rustichini Second-to-fourth digit ratio predicts success among high-frequency financial traders PNAS, January 13, 2009; 106(2): 623 - 628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Engstrom Hot Flashes in Prostate Cancer: State of the Science American Journal of Men's Health, June 1, 2008; 2(2): 122 - 132. [Abstract] [PDF]

				O. Beauchet Testosterone and cognitive function: current clinical evidence of a relationship Eur. J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2006; 155(6): 773 - 781. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. E. Studer, P. Whelan, W. Albrecht, J. Casselman, T. de Reijke, D. Hauri, W. Loidl, S. Isorna, S. K. Sundaram, M. Debois, et al. Immediate or Deferred Androgen Deprivation for Patients With Prostate Cancer Not Suitable for Local Treatment With Curative Intent: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Trial 30891 J. Clin. Oncol., April 20, 2006; 24(12): 1868 - 1876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. J. Ryan and E. J. Small Early Versus Delayed Androgen Deprivation for Prostate Cancer: New Fuel for an Old Debate J. Clin. Oncol., November 10, 2005; 23(32): 8225 - 8231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]