Further Studies on the Androgen Effect on Senescent Memory Function

Abstract

On oral androgen (9 fluoro-11B-hydroxy- 17 methyltestosterone) had been found to improve recall of logical and meaningful material in 13 senescent people, without raising their total memory scores. Prolonged administration of this substance to the same subjects in the same and a somewhat increased dosage did not improve the previously achieved results. The improvement in memory function paralleled the general beneficial effect which the androgen produced in the subjects. The same results were obtained with a still higher dosage in another group of experimental subjects. Some theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Memory and Serum Ribonuclease Activity in the Aged*

“…We tested the memory function of 88 normal old people with a modification of the Wechsler Memory Scale (21–23). In addition, 41 senescent, senile and arteriosclerotic patients were tested with the Standard Wechsler Memory Scale.…”

“…Memory function in one group of 88 normal old subjects was assessed by means of a modified Wechsler Memory Scale described in a previous study (21), and used by Kral and Wigdor in various studies (22, 23). This test was administered under standard conditions.…”

Chemotherapy in Aged Psychiatric Patients

“…Empirically, it has been observed that androgens in the aged male often increase muscular strength, general initiative and the feeling of well being. There is also at least one report of androgen administration producing evidence of improved memmy function in one particular category, namely that involving the recall of meaningful material, while the total memory score was not improved (32).…”