Testosterone supplementation did not show consistent benefit for cardiovascular risk , sexual function , mood and behavior , or cognition .
Studies that examined clinical cardiovascular endpoints have not favored testosterone therapy over placebo .
Testosterone is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction and controlled trials did not show a consistent effect on libido .
Testosterone supplementation consistently increased muscle strength but did not have beneficial effects on physical function .
Most studies on mood-related endpoints found no beneficial effect of testosterone treatment on personality , psychological well-being , or mood .
Testosterone products are recommended by some prescribers in response to a diagnosis or presumption of " low testosterone " ( low-T ) for cardiovascular health , sexual function , muscle weakness or wasting , mood and behavior , and cognition .
Testosterone supplementation improves spatial and verbal memory in healthy older men
Objective : To determine the relationship between exogenous testosterone administration and cognitive abilities in a population of healthy older men . Background : Serum levels of total and bioavailable testosterone gradually decrease with age in men and are associated with reductions in muscle mass , osteoporosis , decreased sexual activity , and changes in cognition . Methods : Twenty-five healthy , community-dwelling volunteers , aged 50 to 80 years , completed a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study . Participants received weekly intramuscular injections of either 100 mg testosterone enanthate or placebo ( saline ) for 6 weeks . Cognitive evaluations were conducted at baseline , week 3 , and week 6 of treatment by use of a battery of neuropsychologic tests . Results : Circulating total testosterone was raised an average of 130 % from baseline at week 3 and 116 % at week 6 in the treatment group . Because of aromatization of testosterone , estradiol increased an average of 77 % at week 3 and 73 % at week 6 in the treatment group . Significant improvements in cognition were observed for spatial memory ( recall of a walking route ) , spatial ability ( block construction ) , and verbal memory ( recall of a short story ) in older men treated with testosterone compared with baseline and the placebo group , although improvements were not evident for all measures . Conclusions : The results suggest that short-term testosterone administration enhances cognitive function in healthy older men . However , it remains unclear whether these improvements in cognition are attributable to increased testosterone or estradiol levels , or both . The potential role of testosterone vs its metabolites on cognition requires further research
Testosterone supplementation did not show consistent benefit for cardiovascular risk , sexual function , mood and behavior , or cognition .
Studies that examined clinical cardiovascular endpoints have not favored testosterone therapy over placebo .
Testosterone is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction and controlled trials did not show a consistent effect on libido .
Testosterone supplementation consistently increased muscle strength but did not have beneficial effects on physical function .
Most studies on mood-related endpoints found no beneficial effect of testosterone treatment on personality , psychological well-being , or mood .
Testosterone products are recommended by some prescribers in response to a diagnosis or presumption of " low testosterone " ( low-T ) for cardiovascular health , sexual function , muscle weakness or wasting , mood and behavior , and cognition .