Randomized trial · 2006

Dhea supplementation and cognition in postmenopausal women.

TD Parsons, KM Kratz, E Thompson, FZ Stanczyk, JG Buckwalter. The International journal of neuroscience.

Previous work has suggested that DHEA supplementation may have adverse cognitive effects in elderly women. This article analyzed 24-h measurements of DHEA, DHEAS, and cortisol to determine if cognitive decrease with treatment is mediated by DHEA's impact on endogenous cortisol. It was found that DHEA administration increased cortisol at several hours during the day. In the treatment group, cortisol was positively associated with cognition at study completion. An increase in negative associations between DHEA(S) levels and cognition was found at completion. Increased cortisol does not explain the cognitive deficits associated with DHEA, suggesting a direct negative effect of exogenous DHEA on cognition.

Open source PMID 16393880

Edges that cite this paper

A year of 50 mg DHEA did not move six cognitive tests against placebo in 225 healthy adults aged 55 to 85. A Cochrane review of earlier RCTs and a 13-week crossover in 46 older men also found no cognitive benefit.

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What Causes What. “Dhea supplementation and cognition in postmenopausal women..” https://whatcauseswhat.org/papers/p-pmid-16393880 (atlas updated 2026-09-02).

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