Low levels of testosterone in older men have been associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AlzD). Declines in testosterone begin as early as the mid-thirties, and by late-middle age contribute to many of the physiological and psychological complaints associated with male aging. The timing of these changes overlaps with the preclinical stage of AlzD, a period that has been targeted as the optimal time during which interventions for the disease may have the greatest effect. The degree to which declines in testosterone influence the preclinical markers of AlzD ? cognition, beta-amyloid (A?), and tau ? represents a significant knowledge gap that has yet to be adequately examined. In the proposed study we will examine cognitively normal men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for non-metastatic prostate cancer, as well as a non-ADT prostate cancer positive control group, with the goal of clarifying the effects of testosterone depletion on preclinical markers of AlzD. ADT is a commonly used treatment for prostate cancer, and offers a unique scenario through which to study the impact of dramatic testosterone depletion on the preclinical markers of AlzD. Although ADT is an effective cancer treatment, it is associated with a wide variety of side effects, including an increased risk for AlzD.
In Aim 1, we will characterize the effects of ADT on cognitive function. We will assess an array of cognitive tests, and utilize a well validated measure of cognitive effort, task-evoked pupil dilation, to assess cognitive changes brought on by ADT. We hypothesize that ADT will tax cognitive resources, resulting in changes in effort and performance.
In Aim 2, we will test whether the polygenic risk for AlzD alters the effects of ADT on cognition. We hypothesize that changes in AlzD sensitive cognitive abilities will be greater in individuals at greater genetic risk for AD.
In Aim 3, will determine the extent to which measures of A? and tau are influenced by ADT. We will utilize gold standard CSF based measures, and neuronally-derived exosomes from plasma to acquire levels of A?40, A?42, total-tau, and phosphorylated-tau. We hypothesize that over the course of ADT we will observe significant changes in A? and tau levels, and that these changes will be more pronounced in those at greater genetic risk for AlzD. Moreover, we hypothesize that changes in A? and tau will be more strongly correlated with cognitive performance and cognitive effort in those at greater genetic risk for AlzD. Assessments will be conducted pre-treatment, and then again at 6 and 12 month follow-ups (three assessments in total). This naturalistic study of a unique clinical population offers a valuable opportunity to examine the impact of changes in a single AlzD risk factor (testosterone level). In contrast to the years or decades that it might take for clinically significant declines in testosterone to manifest in standard populations, we will be able to observe the impact of testosterone depletion on some of the earliest markers of AlzD-related processes over a condensed period of time. As a result, the proposed study will provide novel insights into the role of androgen action in the pathogenesis of AlzD.
Low testosterone in late middle age or early old age is a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. By examining cognitively normal men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, this study will provide valuable insights into the role of androgen action in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, increasing our understanding of a critical Alzheimer's-related pathway that may be responsive to intervention. Moreover, this study will elucidate the long-term risks associated with androgen deprivation therapy, and clarify whether the treatment sets in motion processes that might accelerate the emergence of dementia.
