Association Between Testosterone and Cognition in Men and Women over 60 Years of Age Living in Contexts of Social Vulnerability

The aim of the present study was to analyse associations between testosterone and cognitive domains in men and women 60 years of age or older. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 190 older people stratified by sex and age group registered at Family Health Units in an area of social vulnerability. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, cognitive performance (Mini Mental State Examination) and hormone levels (thyroid-stimulating hormone, prolactin, estradiol, total testosterone and calculated free testosterone). Total testosterone levels changed with the increase in age. Correlations were found between total testosterone and cognition in the temporal orientation (r=-0.910; p=0.00) and evoked recall (r=0.740; p=0.03) domains for men aged 80 years or older as well as the attention/calculation domain for women aged 60 to 69 years (r=0.307; p=0.01) and 80 years or more (r= -0.691; p=0.03). For longer-lived women, a correlation was also found with language (r=0.694 p= 0.03). Correlations between calculated free testosterone and cognition were found for evoked recall in men aged 60-69 years (r=0.323; p=0.05) as well as attention/calculation in women aged 60-69 years (r=0.335; p=0.01). The present findings indicate correlations between testosterone levels and cognition influenced by sex and age among older people in contexts of social vulnerability.