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Androgen deprivation therapy may affect cognitive function
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Larger, more thorough studies are needed to assess the type and degree of the cognitive effects of androgen depletion in patients with prostate cancer.
Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center conducted a systematic literature search using PubMed and the Information Sciences Institute Web of Knowledge-Web of Science to determine the effects hormone therapy has on cognitive function in patients with prostate cancer.
The researchers reported that testosterone and its by-products may affect cognition through several mechanisms in the brain, such as modulating neurotransmitters and stimulating the connection between neurons.
Though changes in cognitive function are subtle and affect only specific domains, between 47% and 69% of men reported a decline in at least one task area. The most commonly affected domains were visuospatial abilities and executive functioning. Some studies reported contradictory data in verbal memory, according to the researchers.
Based on their search, the researchers concluded that the available studies “have not proven a direct connection between androgen ablation and cognition.” – by Stacey L. Adams
Cancer. 2008;doi:10.1002/cncr.23658.
This review draws attention to an important and difficult-to-study potential side effect of androgen deprivation therapy. As it becomes clear that androgen deprivation therapy improves survival in many early disease settings, the use of androgen deprivation therapy will expand. Hence, careful study of all of the ways in which androgen deprivation therapy can impact quality and quantity of life is very important.
– Donald Trump, MD, FACP
HemOnc Today Editorial Board member