BACKGROUND: Androgen receptors are located throughout the brain, especially in regions involved with learning and memory. Different lengths of a CAG (glutamine) repeat polymorphism in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene may influence androgen action, with longer repeat lengths conferring decreased androgen sensitivity. METHODS: We sought to determine if this CAG polymorphism was associated with cognition in older men. RESULTS: Among 301 community-dwelling white men (mean age, 73.0 +/- 7.1), greater CAG repeat length was associated with lower scores on three cognitive tests (p <.05 for all). In addition, 12 participants (9.8%) had cognitive impairment in the low tertile of CAG repeat length whereas 29 (16.3%) had cognitive impairment in the two higher tertiles (odds ratio = 1.8; 95% confidence interval =.9-3.7). CONCLUSIONS: Research should be directed at identifying the mechanism for this association and to determine if treatment with testosterone prevents cognitive decline.
BACKGROUND: Androgen receptors are located throughout the brain, especially in regions involved with learning and memory. Different lengths of a CAG (glutamine) repeat polymorphism in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene may influence androgen action, with longer repeat lengths conferring decreased androgen sensitivity. METHODS: We sought to determine if this CAG polymorphism was associated with cognition in older men. RESULTS: Among 301 community-dwelling white men (mean age, 73.0 +/- 7.1), greater CAG repeat length was associated with lower scores on three cognitive tests (p <.05 for all). In addition, 12 participants (9.8%) had cognitive impairment in the low tertile of CAG repeat length whereas 29 (16.3%) had cognitive impairment in the two higher tertiles (odds ratio = 1.8; 95% confidence interval =.9-3.7). CONCLUSIONS: Research should be directed at identifying the mechanism for this association and to determine if treatment with testosterone prevents cognitive decline.
Authors: Matthew S Panizzon; Richard L Hauger; Lindon J Eaves; Chi-Hua Chen; Anders M Dale; Lisa T Eyler; Bruce Fischl; Christine Fennema-Notestine; Carol E Franz; Michael D Grant; Kristen C Jacobson; Amy J Jak; Michael J Lyons; Sally P Mendoza; Michael C Neale; Elizabeth Prom-Wormley; Larry J Seidman; Ming T Tsuang; Hong Xian; William S Kremen Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2011-10-01 Impact factor: 6.556
Authors: Stephen B Manuck; Anna L Marsland; Janine D Flory; Adam Gorka; Robert E Ferrell; Ahmad R Hariri Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 4.905