Testosterone For The Brain
There may be
more to testosterone than meets the libido. A study by University of California,
San Francisco, researchers indicates the male hormone may reduce the risk
of cognitive decline, a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease, among elderly
men.
As it ages,
the male body decreases its production of testosterone, so some doctors
have begun prescribing supplements to increase libido and treat other age-related
male problems.
"The men in
the study with higher levels of bioavailable testosterone, the testosterone
that can reach the brain, did significantly better on these cognitive tests
than men with lower levels," said lead author Dr. Kristine Yaffe, UCSF
assistant professor of psychiatry, neurology and epidemiology and biostatistics
and chief of geriatric psychiatry at the San Francisco Veterans Administration
Medical Center.
Yaffe cautions
that it’s too soon to recommend that men take testosterone to improve their
mental prowess.
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