Giving women the male hormone testosterone could boost their memory and may even help ward off dementia.
New research shows women who rubbed testosterone gel on their skin every day for six months performed better in brain function tests than those who were given a dummy gel.
Researchers tested the treatment on a group of 96 healthy post-menopausal women.
The hormone group performed significantly better at verbal learning, where they listened to dozens of different words and had to recall as many as they could.
They also scored higher in tests designed to assess the efficiency of their short-term memory.
Boosting brain function is thought to be one of the most effective ways of warding off dementia, as it helps strengthen connections between brain cells.
Boosting brain function is thought to be one of the most effective ways of warding off dementia, as it helps strengthen connections between brain cells.
A test saw women rub a hormone gel on to the arms, shoulders or tummy every day for six months
Experts advise doing this through a healthy diet, regular exercise and 'brain training' routines such as crosswords and puzzles.
But the latest research, carried out at Monash University in Australia, suggests women may also benefit from a daily dose of testosterone gel.
Women are twice as likely as men to get Alzheimer's, although researchers are still unsure why.
However, falling testosterone levels are now being considered.
However, falling testosterone levels are now being considered.
Although testosterone is considered to be a male hormone, women produce small amounts in their ovaries. When they reach the menopause, testosterone production declines.
Some research suggests this causes a reduced libido in many women and that their sex drive may benefit from testosterone replacement therapy - such as gels or skin patches.
But the hormone has also been linked to brain function.
When women reach menopause, testosterone production declines. The hormone is linked to brain function
A 2010 study at St Louis University in the U.S. found older men with depleted hormone levels were more likely to develop the brain-wasting disease. The Australian team behind the new research focused on whether women too might benefit.
Those in the trial, with an average age of 61, rubbed either a hormone gel or placebo gel on to the arms, shoulders or tummy every day for six months.
The women had their memory tested before and after the experiment, and the treatment group showed a significant improvement while there was no change in the placebo group. Blood tests also showed an increase in testosterone levels in the treatment group.
The results were presented at a recent conference but have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Commenting on the trial, Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, welcomed the study but warned: 'We will need to wait for these findings to be peer-reviewed and published before we can evaluate what they could mean for people with dementia.'
Jess Smith from the Alzheimer's Society stressed that it's not certain that improved brain function scores actually translate into a reduced risk of dementia.
But she added: 'This small study indicates a possible future avenue for research into memory loss in women.'
Rude health
Hypnosis could improve the sex lives of postmenopausal women. In a U.S. study of 187 women, those who had hypnotic relaxation therapy reported significantly higher sexual satisfaction.
Meanwhile, a commonly used diabetes drug may also be able to tackle Alzheimer's. Exenatide, which is prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes, is an injectable drug that helps to lower blood sugar levels by increasing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas.
Some early studies have shown that the drug may also protect brain cells, and that it may be useful as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
A new trial at the U.S. National Institute on Aging, will compare the drug with a placebo on 155 people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2409272/Daily-dose-testosterone-wards-dementia-women.html#ixzz2dqi1xyOV
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