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THE IMPACT OF TESTOSTERONE ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Robert Tan
Director of the OPAL Medical Clinic, and Clinical Director of Extended
Care Service Line at the Michael DeBakey VAMC. Associate Professor
of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Clinical Associate Professor
of Family Medicine, University of Texas, Houston.
AD is very common with aging. Currently in the US, there are about
4 million patients with AD and the numbers will skyrocket to 14
million in 2050. Generally speaking, AD is thought to be more common
in women but this may be because of preferential longevity in women.
The diagnosis of AD will be discussed. The role of tau protein as
well as beta amyloid in AD will be highlighted in the presentation.
Chemical andropause and its impact on amyloid will be discussed.
There will be a summary of the studies of association between cognition
and blood levels of DHEAS and testosterone.
We will present our own data on the impact of testosterone on cognition
in hypogonadal men with AD. Our extension study of testosterone
and AD includes imaging with PET scans which is on going at this
time. Our PET study data will be available in the later half of
2007. Explanations of the possible impact of androgens on brain
function will be given. The paradox of the effect of anti-gonadotrophins
on AD will be summarized as well. Off label treatments of hyper
sexuality in AD will be itemized in this talk.
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