S N Seidman1, A B Araujo, S P Roose, J B McKinlay. 1. Department of Clinical Psychopharmacology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Testosterone (T) level declines progressively with age. Psychiatric symptoms of T deficiency (e.g., dysphoria, fatigue, irritability, low libido) are also symptoms of depression, and appear to be variably expressed. METHODS: We assessed independent measures of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis functioning, i.e., total T level and androgen receptor (AR) CAG repeat length (CAG RL), a genetic trait marker associated with AR function; and depression (diagnosed by above-threshold score on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale [CES-D]) in 1000 men (mean age = 62.6 years; SD = 8.3) who participated in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. RESULTS: There were 110 (11%) men with "depression" (CES-D score > or = 16) in the analysis sample. Neither total T level nor CAG RL was associated with depression in bivariate analyses. Among men with shorter CAG RLs, the percentage of men with depression was 21.6% in the lowest subgroup of total T (defined by quintiles) and 4.2% in the highest subgroup of total T. This was confirmed in simple logistic regression models with depression as the dependent variable and continuous total T as the predictor, run separately within the three CAG RL subgroups: depression was significantly and inversely associated with total T in men with shorter CAG RLs but not in men with moderate and longer CAG RLs. CONCLUSIONS: CAG isotype, a genetic trait marker of androgen receptor function, may mediate the expression of the central nervous system effects of T deficiency in men.
BACKGROUND:Testosterone (T) level declines progressively with age. Psychiatric symptoms of T deficiency (e.g., dysphoria, fatigue, irritability, low libido) are also symptoms of depression, and appear to be variably expressed. METHODS: We assessed independent measures of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis functioning, i.e., total T level and androgen receptor (AR) CAG repeat length (CAG RL), a genetic trait marker associated with AR function; and depression (diagnosed by above-threshold score on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale [CES-D]) in 1000 men (mean age = 62.6 years; SD = 8.3) who participated in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. RESULTS: There were 110 (11%) men with "depression" (CES-D score > or = 16) in the analysis sample. Neither total T level nor CAG RL was associated with depression in bivariate analyses. Among men with shorter CAG RLs, the percentage of men with depression was 21.6% in the lowest subgroup of total T (defined by quintiles) and 4.2% in the highest subgroup of total T. This was confirmed in simple logistic regression models with depression as the dependent variable and continuous total T as the predictor, run separately within the three CAG RL subgroups: depression was significantly and inversely associated with total T in men with shorter CAG RLs but not in men with moderate and longer CAG RLs. CONCLUSIONS: CAG isotype, a genetic trait marker of androgen receptor function, may mediate the expression of the central nervous system effects of T deficiency in men.
Authors: Manthos G Giannoulis; Finbarr C Martin; K Sreekumaran Nair; A Margot Umpleby; Peter Sonksen Journal: Endocr Rev Date: 2012-03-20 Impact factor: 19.871
Authors: Lars Westberg; Susanne Henningsson; Mikael Landén; Kristina Annerbrink; Jonas Melke; Staffan Nilsson; Roland Rosmond; Göran Holm; Henrik Anckarsäter; Elias Eriksson Journal: J Psychiatry Neurosci Date: 2009-05 Impact factor: 6.186
Authors: Thomas G Travison; Rebecca Shackelton; Andre B Araujo; Susan A Hall; Rachel E Williams; Richard V Clark; Amy B O'Donnell; John B McKinlay Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 5.562