Impact of androgen deprivation therapy on mood, cognition, and risk for Alzheimer's

Thanks Redwing57, I recognized myself in that article. I'm about a 1/3 of the way through my 2nd six month Lupron shot. I'm hoping what side effects I'm experiencing go away once this wears off. I have decided not to do anymore shots for now.

Thank you for sharing this article. I have had some concerns about this. My memory has definitely slipped. I retired 3 years ago and was thinking that my life has been too easy and without mental challenge. Some have referred to the “Lupron Fog!” I will investigate further. What a huge price to pay for beating this disease. I thought impotence was bad! What’s next?!

At 85, going on 86, I can relate to the use of the computer as a definite plus for cognitive health. I combine research on various issues of personal interest with online poker-playing to keep the wheels going. I also make sure I am physically active daily. Right now I'm in the midst of Spring yard cleanup. During the Winter months I kept busy painting my basement. I also take a 2 hr. nap daily--just before going out to do yard work. My urologist worries about cognitive issues and mentioned cutting back my 2yrs of adt to 18 mos. But if I continue to do as well as I seem to be doing (psa now <0.1 three months post rt for localized g9), I intend to go the distance.

I had wondered about the relationship of ADT and the brain, so thanks, I will be looking at the article. But, just reading the comments so far is an eye opener. I also see more folks referring to AD as type 3 diabetes, or diabetes of the brain. So there are probably many other contributors to this disease, and we probably would not want to have more than one contributor going on at the same time, might be additive. There are probably also some other drugs which are a problem also. But I'm thinking it is best to do all possible to avoid T2D or pre diabetes, even more so if we might end up on ADT.

But, I am wondering, does this apply to surgical castration also, or just to drug induced castration?

I have a long running debate with my wife on how common Alzheimer's is now compared to when we were younger. I have had several friends my age or not much older who have died of AD in the last 10-15 years( so, died in their erly 60s or not much older). In addition, I know 2 physician brothers, Ob-Gyn docs, whose patients I gave anesthesia for over a 15 to 20 year period. They both suddenly lost their practices when they came down with AD in their early 60s. One died within a few years, the other has held on for quite a few years since then. Also, I have several other friends who simply have the disease.

But my wife insists it was always this way, that we just would not have noticed this happening to old folks when we were young. I say BS, though the old folks were not all that much on my mind when I was 18-30, I would have dang sure noticed if this many people I knew- my relatives or my parents friends- lost all their memory and died in their 60s or even 70s. Sure, I knew people in their 90s that had what we called senile dementia. But see, I even remember those old folks. I dang sure would have taken notice if that happened to my parents or their friends in their 60s. I insist that there is a lot more of it, just like there is so much more diabetes and obesity. Something is causing it. One or more drugs, or something environmental, or the much higher incidence of T2 diabetes starting at earlier and earlier ages. What used to be called called adult onset diabetes is now being seen in children. But something, or some combination of things, is causing a higher incidence. It appears I can now add a common PC treatment to the list of suspects.

Post Edited (BillyBob@388) : 4/13/2019 8:53:33 AM (GMT-6)

BillyBob@388 said...
.....Something is causing it. One or more drugs, or something environmental....

.

With all the 'stuff' we put into our bodies, food, drugs, supplements, is it really surprising? What little is really known about PCa, even less is known about the long term effects of ADT. It is nasty, and the physicians who prescribe 2 years of ADT, have, in my experience, little of any scientific basis for it.

....and so it goes.

RobLee said...
My father died of Alzheimer Disease thirty years ago.....and I am uncertain how much of my "forgetfulness" is due to the ADT's persistence and how much of it may be from, uh, something else.

Sorry about you dad, Rob.

Alzheimer's, another plague the medical community is confused about. Right up there with PCa. It's no wonder they don't have a good handle on side or after effects.

Hang in there my friend, remember the good, and forget the bad.