How Testosterone Therapy Improves Men’s Brain Health
Most people already know that testosterone, the male sex hormone, governs those attributes that make a guy “manly”, including: libido, sexual performance, ability to build muscle, hair growth, energy, stamina, strength and more.
But few people realize that “low T” can also have a profound negative health on a man’s brain and mental functioning.
Clinical studies have revealed that low levels of testosterone can cause “brain fog” in men, increase the risk of stroke, aggravate Parkinson’s disease, and even contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
The good news, however, is that testosterone replacement therapy may help some men reduce their risk of stroke, improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and potential delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease under certain conditions.
In this article the testosterone therapy specialists at Tutera Medical in Scottsdale, Glendale and Chandler, AZ discuss four ways that testosterone replacement can improve men’s brain health to enhance their quality of life at every age.
Testosterone Therapy to Reduce Stroke Risk
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing the brain tissue from getting enough oxygen. And without enough oxygen the brain tissue can die within minutes – leaving the patient with brain damage, memory loss, cognition problems, speech issues and/or impaired motor skills.
A study conducted by Monika Hollander, MD, of the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, found that men who had low testosterone levels had a higher risk of suffering a stroke than those with normal or high testosterone levels.
Fortunately, other studies have revealed that replacing low testosterone with hormone replacement therapy can have a protective effect on the brains of men – but only if they are non-smokers. Smokers with higher testosterone levels do not have a lower risk or stroke.
So, restoring low testosterone levels with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and quitting smoking are two important steps men can take to reduce their risk of suffering a debilitating stroke.
Testosterone Therapy to Improve Parkinson’s Symptoms
A study conducted by Mahlon DeLong, MD, of Emory University also suggested that testosterone replacement can help alleviate certain symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in men who have low testosterone levels.
When the male Parkinson’s patients in the study received testosterone replacement therapy, the researchers found that mental symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and energy (as well as sexual function) improved greatly.
In the general population, testosterone deficiency affects about 20% to 25% of males over age 60. Researchers postulate that this hormone deficiency may account for some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s that are not muscle related.
Although more research in a larger number of patients is needed, researchers say that testosterone treatment may be a effective alternative to some medications, such as antidepressants, that don’t generally work well in some Parkinson’s patients with low testosterone levels.
Testosterone Therapy and Alzheimer’s Disease
Another interesting medical study has revealed that low levels of testosterone may also be a predictor of cognitive decline in older men with memory problems, including a progression to Alzheimer’s disease, as well as an increased risk for developing age-related dementia.
A study conducted by professor of gerontology John Morley, MD at Saint Louis University Medical Center examined older men with early memory declines who did not yet have Alzheimer’s. The study found that participants were much more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease during the year of follow-up if they had low testosterone levels at the time of enrollment in the study.
A separate study by researchers at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan found that for every 50% increase in free testosterone in a man’s bloodstream there was an astounding 26% decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Testosterone Therapy for and Brain Fog
Even healthy men with low testosterone levels have been shown to experience cognitive issues – commonly called “brain fog.” Difficultly focusing or thinking clearly, memory issues, problems organizing and setting schedules, etc. are all documented side effects of “Low T”. Several different clinical studies have shown that men with low testosterone perform lower than average on mental tests for verbal fluency, visual-spatial processing, memory, attention, and executive function.
However, studies show that testosterone replacement therapy can help a man with Low T improve memory, concentration, and other mental cognition functions.
Men’s Testosterone Therapy | Scottsdale, AZ
Men’s testosterone replacement therapy (HRT) naturally restores the correct amount and balance of male hormones.
Not only can testosterone therapy help restore a man’s quality of life by eliminating frustrating sexual symptoms, it can also improve brain health and protect against certain types of mental decline.
If you are a man who is suffering from any type of sexual performance issues and/or any evidence of “brain fog” or other cognitive problems, schedule an appointment with the hormone testing and replacement experts at Tutera Medical in Scottsdale, Glendale and Chandler, AZ.