Androgen Suppression for Prostate Cancer Alters Cognition Somewhat By David Douglas Combined androgen blockade as therapy for prostate cancer appears to have mixed, but minor, effects on cognitive function, researchers report. Spatial ability may be impaired but verbal memory seems to be improved. As lead investigator Dr. Monique M. Cherrier told Reuters Health, overall "although some men may experience subjective sense of difficulties with cognitive functioning during periods of androgen suppression, our findings suggest a lack of evidence for significant changes using objective assessment of cognitive function." Dr. Cherrier and colleagues at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle came to these conclusions after studying 19 men with prostate cancer and increasing prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. All were hormone naive and metastasis free, and underwent intermittent androgen suppression with leuprolide and flutamide over a 9-month period. Compared to baseline, androgen blockade reduced PSA and testosterone in all patients. Furthermore, the researchers report in the November issue of the Journal of Urology, testing showed no significant changes in measures of verbal and spatial memory, executive function or language. "The only exception to this," Dr. Cherrier continued, "was our finding of a decrease in the ability to mentally rotate complex three-dimensional figures." However, "this ability returned to normal when treatment stopped and androgen levels returned to normal." Another finding was that there was of an improvement in a measure of verbal memory during treatment, which continued in the off-treatment period. Altogether, the researchers call for larger studies with a longer follow-up, and Dr. Cherrier added that "we are currently investigating whether androgen suppression results in changes in brain activation -- using neuroimaging." SOURCE: Journal of Urology 2003;170:1808-1811. Thanks to Reuters Health, 12/03 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.