Age-Related Male Hypogonadism and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Focus on the Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Cognition
<b>Background.</b> Epidemiological data report that male hypogonadism may play a role in cognitive impairment in elderly. However, the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on cognitive abilities in this cluster of patients has not been well established. <b>Methods.</...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/5/4/76 |
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| author | Giuseppe Lisco Vito Angelo Giagulli Anna De Tullio Giovanni De Pergola Edoardo Guastamacchia Vincenzo Triggiani |
| author_facet | Giuseppe Lisco Vito Angelo Giagulli Anna De Tullio Giovanni De Pergola Edoardo Guastamacchia Vincenzo Triggiani |
| author_sort | Giuseppe Lisco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background.</b> Epidemiological data report that male hypogonadism may play a role in cognitive impairment in elderly. However, the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on cognitive abilities in this cluster of patients has not been well established. <b>Methods.</b> PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched by using free text words and medical subject headings terms related with “male hypogonadism”, “late-onset hypogonadism”, elderly, cognition, “mild cognitive impairment”, memory, “testosterone replacement therapy” used in various combinations according to the specific clinical questions. Original articles, reviews, and randomized controlled trials written in English were selected. <b>Results.</b> A long-term TRT could improve specific cognitive functions, such as verbal and spatial memory, cognitive flexibility, and physical vitality. However, randomized controlled trials do not provide positive results, and in most of the cases TRT might not induce beneficial effects on cognitive function in elderly men. <b>Discussion and conclusions.</b> Since the lengthening of life expectancy, the prevalence rate of cognitive decline in elderly men is expected to increase remarkably over the next decade with considerable healthcare and economical concerns. Therefore, this remains a relevant clinical topic and further investigations are needed for clarifying the role of TRT especially in elderly men with hypogonadism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:33:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6cdcaf9df07f439f8eea8ee97f126233 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2308-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:33:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-6cdcaf9df07f439f8eea8ee97f1262332023-11-20T17:26:08ZengMDPI AGGeriatrics2308-34172020-10-01547610.3390/geriatrics5040076Age-Related Male Hypogonadism and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Focus on the Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on CognitionGiuseppe Lisco0Vito Angelo Giagulli1Anna De Tullio2Giovanni De Pergola3Edoardo Guastamacchia4Vincenzo Triggiani5Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine–Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Policlinico of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine–Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Policlinico of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine–Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Policlinico of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine–Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Policlinico of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine–Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Policlinico of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy<b>Background.</b> Epidemiological data report that male hypogonadism may play a role in cognitive impairment in elderly. However, the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on cognitive abilities in this cluster of patients has not been well established. <b>Methods.</b> PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched by using free text words and medical subject headings terms related with “male hypogonadism”, “late-onset hypogonadism”, elderly, cognition, “mild cognitive impairment”, memory, “testosterone replacement therapy” used in various combinations according to the specific clinical questions. Original articles, reviews, and randomized controlled trials written in English were selected. <b>Results.</b> A long-term TRT could improve specific cognitive functions, such as verbal and spatial memory, cognitive flexibility, and physical vitality. However, randomized controlled trials do not provide positive results, and in most of the cases TRT might not induce beneficial effects on cognitive function in elderly men. <b>Discussion and conclusions.</b> Since the lengthening of life expectancy, the prevalence rate of cognitive decline in elderly men is expected to increase remarkably over the next decade with considerable healthcare and economical concerns. Therefore, this remains a relevant clinical topic and further investigations are needed for clarifying the role of TRT especially in elderly men with hypogonadism.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/5/4/76late-onset hypogonadismtestosteronetestosterone replacement therapycognitionmemorymild cognitive impairment |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppe Lisco Vito Angelo Giagulli Anna De Tullio Giovanni De Pergola Edoardo Guastamacchia Vincenzo Triggiani Age-Related Male Hypogonadism and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Focus on the Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Cognition Geriatrics late-onset hypogonadism testosterone testosterone replacement therapy cognition memory mild cognitive impairment |
| title | Age-Related Male Hypogonadism and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Focus on the Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Cognition |
| title_full | Age-Related Male Hypogonadism and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Focus on the Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Cognition |
| title_fullStr | Age-Related Male Hypogonadism and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Focus on the Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Cognition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-Related Male Hypogonadism and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Focus on the Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Cognition |
| title_short | Age-Related Male Hypogonadism and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Focus on the Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Cognition |
| title_sort | age related male hypogonadism and cognitive impairment in the elderly focus on the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on cognition |
| topic | late-onset hypogonadism testosterone testosterone replacement therapy cognition memory mild cognitive impairment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/5/4/76 |
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