Sex Steroids Modify Working Memory

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeri S. Janowsky ◽  
Bambi Chavez ◽  
Eric Orwoll
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Cortical Function ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hippocampal Synaptogenesis ◽  
And Function

In the last ten years, numerous mechanisms by which sex steroids modify cortical function have been described. For example, estrogen replacement improves verbal memory in women, and animal studies have shown effects of estrogen on hippocampal synaptogenesis and function. Little is known about sex steroid effects on other aspects of memory, such as frontal lobe-mediated working memory. We examined the relationships between working memory and sex steroid concentrations and whether sex steroid supplementation would modify age-related loss of working memory in older men and women. Before hormone supplementation, working memory, tested with the Subject Ordered Pointing Test (SOP), was worse in older subjects than younger subjects, and there was no evidence of gender differences at either age. Testosterone supplementation improved working memory in older men, but a similar enhancement of working memory was not found in older women supplemented with estrogen. In men, testosterone and estrogen effects were reciprocal—with better working memory related to a higher testosterone to estrogen ratio. These results suggest that sex steroids can modulate working memory in men and can act as modulators of cognition throughout life.

scholarly journals Extranuclear estrogen receptor's roles in physiology: lessons from mouse models

2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (2) ◽  
pp. E133-E140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis R. Levin
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Models ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Steroid Receptors ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Normal Cells ◽  
Receptor Localization ◽  
Selective Agonists ◽  
And Function ◽  
Receptor Pool ◽  
Made In

Steroid receptors exist and function in multiple compartments of cells in most organs. Although the functions and nature of some of these receptors is being defined, important aspects of receptor localization and signaling to physiology and pathophysiology have been identified. In particular, extranuclear sex steroid receptors have been found in many normal cells and in epithelial tumors, where they enact signal transduction that impacts both nongenomic and genomic functions. Here, I focus on the progress made in understanding the roles of extranuclear estrogen receptors (ER) in physiology and pathophysiology. Extranuclear ER serve as a model to selectively intervene with novel receptor reagents to prevent or limit disease progression. Recent novel mouse models and membrane ER-selective agonists also provide a better understanding of receptor pool cross-talk that results in the overall integrative actions of sex steroids.

scholarly journals Cognitive Effects of Short-Term Manipulation of Serum Sex Steroids in Healthy Young Men

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (7) ◽  
pp. 3090-3096 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Cherrier ◽  
B. D. Anawalt ◽  
K. L. Herbst ◽  
J. K. Amory ◽  
S. Craft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Cognitive Effects ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
To Receive

We examined the effects of sex steroids on cognitive functioning by exogenously manipulating circulating T levels in a group of healthy young men. Thirty-two men were randomized to receive 8 wk of treatment including: 1) im T enanthate 100 mg/wk plus daily oral placebo (T); 2) im placebo/wk plus 125 μg daily oral levonorgestrel (LNG); 3) im T enanthate 100 mg/wk plus 125 μg daily oral LNG (T + LNG); 4) im placebo/wk plus daily oral placebo. Cognitive functions were assessed at baseline and twice during treatment. Serum T and E2 levels were significantly increased in the T and T + LNG groups compared with baseline (P < 0.01) and T levels were significantly decreased in the LNG group (P < 0.05). Verbal memory significantly decreased in the LNG group (P < 0.01) and was maintained by coadministration of T in the T + LNG group. Divided attention was unaffected in the LNG group but improved significantly in the T + LNG group. In summary, decreased serum T levels induced by LNG or direct effects of the progestin, LNG, adversely affects verbal memory in normal young men. These results suggest that short-term changes in sex steroid levels have effects on cognitive function in healthy young men.

scholarly journals Effects of methylphenidate on executive functioning in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across the lifespan: a meta-regression analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1791-1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. H. Tamminga ◽  
L. Reneman ◽  
H. M. Huizenga ◽  
H. M. Geurts
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Age Related

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood and adulthood is often treated with the psychostimulant methylphenidate (MPH). However, it is unknown whether cognitive effects of MPH depend on age in individuals with ADHD, while animal studies have suggested age-related effects. In this meta-analysis, we first determined the effects of MPH on response inhibition, working memory and sustained attention, but our main goal was to examine whether these effects are moderated by age. A systematic literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and MEDLINE for double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with MPH resulted in 25 studies on response inhibition (n = 775), 13 studies on working memory (n = 559) and 29 studies on sustained attention (n = 956) (mean age range 4.8–50.1 years). The effects of MPH on response inhibition [effect size (ES) = 0.40, p < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22–0.58], working memory (ES = 0.24, p = 0.053, 95% CI 0.00–0.48) and sustained attention (ES = 0.42, p < 0.0001, 95% CI 26–0.59) were small to moderate. No linear or quadratic age-dependencies were observed, indicating that effects of MPH on executive functions are independent of age in children and adults with ADHD. However, adolescent studies are lacking and needed to conclude a lack of an age-dependency across the lifespan.

Sex Steroid Blockade Enhances Thymopoiesis By Modulating Notch Signaling

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 291-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Velardi ◽  
Jennifer J Tsai ◽  
Amanda M. Holland ◽  
Natalie V Singer ◽  
Mallory L West ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Immune Recovery ◽  
Thymic Involution ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Thymic Function ◽  
Cell Commitment ◽  
And Function

Abstract Thymopoiesis is a complex process dependent on precise signals from the supporting thymic stromal microenvironment that orchestrates the progression of precursor T cells through well-defined maturation stages. It is well documented that the decline in thymic size and function with age is in part correlated with an increase in sex steroids. This age-related decline in function can be detrimental to the recovery of the thymus in patients receiving radio or chemo-therapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Delayed immune reconstitution, especially in the T cell lineage, is associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections and malignant relapses. Therefore strategies to enhance thymic reconstitution has the potential to decrease the period of T cell lymphopenia and increase overall clinical outcome. In the process of evaluating the effects of sex steroids in the decline of the thymic function, we found a decrease in the expression of the key thymopoietic factors IL-7, CCL25 and Delta-like 4 (DLL4) by thymic stromal cells after testosterone treatment (Figure 1A). We then addressed if these transcriptional changes were the result of a direct regulation by the androgen receptor (AR). Using a computational approach, and subsequently confirmed by ChIP studies, we found that AR directly bound and negatively regulated the promoter of DLL4, a critical gene involved in T cell commitment and differentiation. We and others have previously shown that sex steroid ablation (SSA) can regenerate young and aged immune system by promoting bone marrow and thymic lymphopoiesis and promoting recovery from autologous and allogeneic HSCT. However the mechanisms underlying the sex steroid-mediate thymic involution and its regeneration after SSA are poorly understood. Moreover, one of the main drawbacks to standard clinical methods of sex steroid ablation using luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists (LHRH-Ag) is the initial surge in sex steroids they cause. To address this, we employed a novel class of LHRH-antagonists (LHRH-Ant) that rapidly block the secretion of sex steroids without causing their initial surge that can be even more detrimental to thymopoiesis. Mice treated with LHRH-Ant showed a significantly faster increase in thymic cellularity compared with LHRH-Ag treated mice (Figure 1B). Given the negative regulation of DLL4 by the AR, we hypothesized that DLL4 expression would conversely increase after SSA in vivo. Indeed, we found a significant increase in DLL4 expression after SSA and also an increase in genes downstream of DLL4, such as Ptcra, Hes1 and Cd25 (Figure 1C). We next evaluated if treatment with the LHRH-Ant would provide a faster immune recovery after injury to the immune system. We found that mice treated with LHRH-Ant showed a faster thymic regeneration after total body irradiation (TBI) compared to the control irradiated mice (Figure 1D) and enhanced viral clearance (Figure 1E). Finally, we also found that LHRH-Ant enhanced thymic and peripheral reconstitution up to 3 months after allo-HSCT (Figure 1F). In conclusion, we found that down-regulation of DLL4 may represent one of the mechanisms underlying the effects of sex steroids on thymic function. We demonstrate that SSA with a novel LHRH-Ant increases DLL4 expression and enhances thymic and peripheral T cell recovery and function after immune injury. These findings suggest that the employment of a LHRH-Ant, which is already in clinical use for prostate cancer patients, represents a novel therapeutic strategy to enhance immune recovery and function in immunocompromised patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Amount of Protein Required to Improve Muscle Mass in Older Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1700
Author(s):  
Doyeon Kim ◽  
Yongsoon Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Age Related ◽  
And Function ◽  
Habitual Protein Intake

Increased protein intake has been suggested as an effective strategy to treat age-related loss of muscle mass and function, but the amount of protein required to improve muscle and function without exercise in older adults remains unclear. Thus, this secondary data analysis aimed to assess what amount of protein from habitual protein intake was positively associated with changes in muscle mass and gait speed in older women and men. Ninety-six community-dwelling older adults consumed 0.8, 1.2, or 1.5 g/kg/day of protein and maintained their usual physical activity for 12 weeks. Increased protein intake of >0.54 g/kg/day was positively associated with changes in appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM)/weight (B = 0.591, p = 0.026), ASM/body mass index (B = 0.615, p = 0.023), and ASM:fat ratio (B = 0.509, p = 0.030) in older men. However, change in protein intake was not associated with change in muscle mass in older women. Additionally, change in protein intake was not associated with change in gait speed in older women and men. The present study suggested that an increased absolute protein amount of >0.54 g/kg/day from habitual protein intake was positively associated with change in muscle mass in older men.

Age and gender interactions on verbal memory performance

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOEL H. KRAMER ◽  
KRISTINE YAFFE ◽  
JEANNE LENGENFELDER ◽  
DEAN C. DELIS
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Younger Men ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Gender Interactions

Age and gender effects on verbal episodic memory are well established. However, the possibility of interactions between age and gender has been raised by studies linking estrogen and verbal memory performance, and by research suggesting gender differences in age-related cortical atrophy. We evaluated whether age by gender interactions in verbal memory were present. Subjects within three years of the median age of menopause were excluded from a large cohort of normal subjects, resulting in a younger sample (16–47 years) of 288 men and 285 women, and an older sample (55–89 years) of 201 men and 245 women. All subjects were administered the CVLT-2, a multiple-trial list-learning task. Verbal memory was negatively correlated with age for younger men, older men, and older women, but not for younger women. Multivariate analyses indicated age by gender interactions on memory for the younger group but not the older group. Results indicate that verbal memory declines with age for younger men but not younger women, whereas both older men and older women show age-related declines. These findings are consistent with hypotheses linking estrogen and verbal memory performance, and with imaging data suggesting that age-related hippocampal atrophy is found in younger men but not younger women. The role of estrogen on cognition in normal aging warrants further study. (JINS, 2003, 9, 97–102.)

scholarly journals Oxytocin and Bone: Review and Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8551
Author(s):  
Véronique Breuil ◽  
Marie-Charlotte Trojani ◽  
Amri Ez-Zoubir
Keyword(s):  
Serum Level ◽  
Bone Formation ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Bone Cells ◽  
Bone Microarchitecture ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Age Related ◽  
And Function

Recent data demonstrate the anabolic effect of oxytocin on bone. Bone cells express oxytocin receptors. Oxytocin promotes osteoblasts differentiation and function, leading to an increased bone formation with no effect on bone resorption and an improvement of bone microarchitecture. Oxytocin is synthetized by osteoblasts, and this synthesis is stimulated by estrogen. Animal studies demonstrate a direct action of oxytocin on bone, as the systemic administration of oxytocin prevents and reverses the bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency. Although oxytocin is involved in bone formation in both sexes during development, oxytocin treatment has no effect on male osteoporosis, underlining the importance of estrogen that amplifies its local autocrine and paracrine secretion. There are few human data showing a decrease in the oxytocin serum level in anorexia nervosa independently of estrogen and in amenorrheic women associated with impaired bone microarchitecture; in post-menopausal women a higher oxytocin serum level is associated with higher bone density, but not in osteoporotic men. Oxytocin displays many effects that may be beneficial in the management of osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, cognitive disorders, breast cancer, diabetes and body fat gain, all age-related diseases affecting elderly women, opening exciting therapeutic perspectives, although the issue is to find a single route, dosage and schedule able to reach all these targets.

The Developing Relationship Among Cognition, Amplification, and Aural Rehabilitation

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. DiGiovanni ◽  
Travis L. Riffle
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Hearing Aid Fitting ◽  
Aural Rehabilitation ◽  
Basic Concepts ◽  
And Function

The search for best practices in hearing aid fittings and aural rehabilitation has generally used the audiogram and function stemming from peripheral sensitivity. In recent years, however, we have learned that individuals respond differently to various hearing aid and aural rehabilitation techniques based on cognitive abilities. In this paper, we review basic concepts of working memory and the literature driving our knowledge in newer concepts of hearing aid fitting and aural rehabilitation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document