Women With Higher Levels Of DHEAS Have Better Cognitive Function

SOURCE: Medical News Today

DATE: February 22, 2008

EXCERPT:   "Women with naturally higher levels of the hormone precursor DHEAS were found to have better cognitive function than women with lower levels  ....      DHEA is a steroid precursor, which means that it is converted in the body to steroid hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. It is the most abundant circulating sex steroid in women.    ...    The researchers speculate that there may be a number of explanations for their findings, including direct action of DHEA and DHEAS, DHEAS being a marker of androgen and estrogen production in women, or simply DHEA and DHEAS levels being markers of general good health.   ....   Although DHEA and DHEAS levels decline in both men and women with age, testosterone levels are generally well maintained in men. In contrast, testosterone levels in women are only a fraction of those found naturally in men. This may mean that even small differences in adrenal pre-androgen production may make a substantial difference to a woman's overall androgen profile."   more

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Women With Higher Levels Of DHEAS Have Better Cognitive Function
Davis SR, Shah SM, McKenzie DP, Kulkarni J, Davison SL, Bell RJ. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels are associated with more favorable cognitive function in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Mar;93(3):801-8.