Oh Dae Jong, Baek Ki-Hyun, Kang Dong Woo, Hong Yun Jeong, Jeong Chaiho
Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
J Korean Med Sci. 2025 Mar 17;40(10):e15. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2025.40.e15.
Researchers have proposed that there is a potential link between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and cognitive function, yet the evidence remains inconclusive. The current study aims to identify the association between serum FSH levels and cognitive performance, and to examine whether this association varies by cognitive diagnosis, serum estradiol (E2) levels, or cognitive domain.
This multicenter cross-sectional study used a clinical database comprising female visitors to memory clinics at three referral hospitals in Korea. Venous blood samples were collected to determine serum FSH and E2 concentrations via immunoradiometric assay. Cognitive performance was evaluated using either the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease or the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery, while cognitive diagnoses were made via clinical diagnostic interviews.
Among the 159 participants (normal cognition [NC], n = 70; mild cognitive impairment [MCI], n = 52; Alzheimer's disease [AD] dementia, n = 37), there were no significant differences in serum FSH levels associated with cognitive diagnosis. In women with NC, serum FSH levels were found to be positively correlated with cognitive performance in global cognition, nonverbal memory, and executive function, even after adjusting for serum E2 level and its interaction with serum FSH level. However, no significant correlations were observed in women with MCI and AD dementia.
The association between circulating FSH and cognition may be independent from circulating E2, but it may depend on disease progression or cognitive domains. This suggests a potential role of gonadotropin in cognitive decline in elderly women.
研究人员提出，促卵泡生成素（FSH）与认知功能之间可能存在联系，但证据仍不确凿。本研究旨在确定血清FSH水平与认知表现之间的关联，并探讨这种关联是否因认知诊断、血清雌二醇（E2）水平或认知领域而异。
这项多中心横断面研究使用了一个临床数据库，该数据库包含韩国三家转诊医院记忆门诊的女性就诊者。采集静脉血样，通过免疫放射分析测定血清FSH和E2浓度。认知表现采用韩国版阿尔茨海默病注册协会量表或首尔神经心理筛查量表进行评估，同时通过临床诊断访谈进行认知诊断。
在159名参与者中（正常认知[NC]，n = 70；轻度认知障碍[MCI]，n = 52；阿尔茨海默病[AD]痴呆，n = 37），与认知诊断相关的血清FSH水平无显著差异。在NC女性中，即使在调整血清E2水平及其与血清FSH水平的相互作用后，血清FSH水平仍与整体认知、非言语记忆和执行功能的认知表现呈正相关。然而，在MCI和AD痴呆女性中未观察到显著相关性。
循环FSH与认知之间的关联可能独立于循环E2，但可能取决于疾病进展或认知领域。这表明促性腺激素在老年女性认知衰退中可能发挥潜在作用。
