Objective: Young adults with childhood-onset GH deficiency (GHD) have reduced memory and attention, which can be improved by treatment with GH. Little information is available on cognitive function in elderly GHD patients.
Design: Single center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 52-week duration.
Methods: Elderly GH therapy naïve GHD patients (n=34; age range 60–77 years) were enrolled and randomized to receive placebo or GH therapy which was titrated to achieve a target IGF-I level of +1 to +2 s.d. of the normal mean for age. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and after 24 and 52 weeks, using a computerized psychometric test package (Neurobehavioral Examination System-2).
Results: The mean GH dose was 0.16±0.06 mg/day; mean IGF-I increased from 135±59 ng/ml at baseline to 213±77 ng/ml during active treatment. The GH-treated group had better mean serial digit learning scores compared with placebo group (P<0.05). Assessment of effect sizes showed that improvements in memory occurred with GH after 24 weeks. The overall adverse event rates were similar in the GH and the placebo group.
Conclusion: This study indicates that GH replacement may be accompanied by improvement in certain measures of cognitive function in elderly patients with GHD.
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