University College London study questions testosterone for menopause brain fog

A review of five studies by researchers at University College London (UCL) suggests that testosterone may not ease brain fog or memory problems in post-menopausal women. The research, published in the journal Reproduction and Fertility, involved 244 volunteers with an average age of 57 who received either a placebo or varying levels of the hormone over four to 26 weeks.

The study found no statistically significant improvements in cognitive function among those taking testosterone. Researchers noted that the findings should be interpreted as insufficient to establish an effect, rather than as definitive evidence of no effect.

Professor Aimee Spector, senior author of the study, noted that social media is currently flooded with claims regarding the hormone's ability to improve memory. While anecdotal evidence may exist for perimenopausal women, Spector emphasized that more research is required to understand the links between testosterone and brain health. This comes amid reports of increasing testosterone prescriptions across NHS and private clinics in the UK.