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Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA‐S) and Alzheimer's dementia in older subjects
Author(s) -
Bo Mario,
Massaia Massimiliano,
Zannella Patrizia,
Cappa Giorgetta,
Ferrario Ermanno,
Rainero Innocenzo,
Arvat Emanuela,
Giordano Roberta,
Molaschi Mario
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.1608
Subject(s) - dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate , dehydroepiandrosterone , dementia , medicine , alzheimer's disease , psychology , endocrinology , cognitive impairment , androgen , disease , hormone
Objectives and Methods We investigated the association of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA‐S) levels with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) and impairment in selected cognitive domains (memory, language, attention and working memory) in 158 patients (75.5 ± 6.7 years, 46 men) with first‐diagnosed probable DAT and in 158 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. As secondary goal, we evaluated whether DHEA‐S baseline levels were associated with cumulative 6‐year mortality. Results A negative correlation between DHEA‐S levels and age was observed ( R = −0.25, p < 0.001). Age‐stratified analysis did not show significant differences of DHEA‐S levels between DAT patients and controls. No significant association was found between DHEA‐S levels and impairment in selected cognitive domains. Cox regression analysis showed that baseline DHEA‐S levels were not associated with cumulative 6‐year mortality. Conclusions In a sample of newly‐diagnosed DAT patients, we did not find significant association between presence of DAT or impairment in cognitive domains and DHEA‐S levels; baseline DHEA‐S levels are not associated with cumulative mortality in patients and controls. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.