Psychoneuroendocrinology
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Psychoneuroendocrinology · Aug 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialOpposing effects of DHEA replacement in elderly subjects on declarative memory and attention after exposure to a laboratory stressor.
Aging is accompanied by a continuous decline of the adrenal steroid hormone DHEA and its ester DHEAS. Results from studies in rodents have demonstrated that DHEA(S) administration can enhance memory in several test paradigms. However studies from this laboratory did not find positive effects of DHEA treatment on cognitive performance in young and elderly humans. ⋯ The effects of DHEA substitution on memory and attention after stress exposure seem to be heterogenous. While recall of previously learned material seems to be impaired, attention is enhanced. These results do not support the idea of a direct antiglucocorticoid or anti-stress effect of DHEA on hippocampal mediated memory functions.