The Association between Sex Hormones and Cognitive Performance in Older Women

This doctoral thesis investigated the associations between blood concentrations of sex steroids—oestrogens, testosterone, and DHEA—and cognitive performance in women aged 70 and older. Through systematic reviews and analysis of longitudinal data from the SHOW and ASPREE studies, no consistent associations were found between baseline steroid levels and cognitive performance. Some evidence linked high oestrone and DHEA levels with decline in executive function and verbal fluency over three years, but no associations with incident dementia were observed. The findings suggest limited utility in measuring sex steroids for predicting cognitive decline and do not support hormone therapy for cognitive preservation in older women.