Relationships between Plasma Concentrations of Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone and Geriatric Depression Scale Scores in Men and Women Aged 60–65 Years—A Multivariate Approach with the Use of Quade’s Test

Kamil Karolczak (), Joanna Kostanek, Bartlomiej Soltysik, Lucyna Konieczna, Tomasz Baczek, Tomasz Kostka and Cezary Watala
Additional contact information
Kamil Karolczak: Department of Haemostatic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
Joanna Kostanek: Department of Haemostatic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
Bartlomiej Soltysik: Department of Geriatrics, Healthy Aging Research Center (HARC), Medical University of Lodz, pl. Hallera 1, 90-647 Lodz, Poland
Lucyna Konieczna: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
Tomasz Baczek: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
Tomasz Kostka: Department of Geriatrics, Healthy Aging Research Center (HARC), Medical University of Lodz, pl. Hallera 1, 90-647 Lodz, Poland
Cezary Watala: Department of Haemostatic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: The potential role of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the pathogenesis of depression in older subjects is poorly recognized and understood. The current study examines the symptoms of depression in males and females at the age of 60–65 using a short version (15 questions) of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaire. Blood plasma levels of androgens were estimated by LC/MS/MS. Total GDS score calculated for males were not found to be significantly associated with plasma levels of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone. Older men with higher plasma testosteronemia were more likely to report being in good spirits most of the time, but more willing to stay at home than undertake outside activities. The men with higher plasma levels of dihydrotestosterone also perceived themselves as being in good spirits most of the time. Older men with higher testosterone were more likely to report having more problems with their memory than others. No significant associations were found between plasma levels of androgens and GDS scores in older women; however, some tendencies suggest that testosterone and dihydrotestosterone may act as antidepressants in older women.

Keywords: testosterone; dihydrotestosterone; sex; depression; risk factor; geriatric scale of depression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12507/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12507/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12507-:d:930591

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().