Cognitive Performance and Structural Brain Correlates in Long-Term Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Exposed and Nonexposed Weightlifters
Cognitive Performance and Structural Brain Correlates in Long-Term Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Exposed and Nonexposed Weightlifters
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DOI：
10.1037/neu0000537
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发表时间：
2019-05-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.4
通讯作者：
Fjell, Anders M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Bjornebekk, Astrid;Westlye, Lars T.;Fjell, Anders M.
目的：检验长期使用合成代谢-雄激素(AAS)与认知功能的关系，并通过评估使用者和非使用者的认知表现与脑形态之间的关系来建立候选的神经元基础。方法：对84名既往或现在使用AAS的男性举重运动员和69名非使用AAS的男性举重运动员进行了脑部MRI检查和综合神经心理测试。研究人员比较了两组受试者在精细运动速度、处理速度、学习和记忆、工作记忆、执行功能和解决问题方面的表现，以及长期接触AAS和短期接触AAS的受试者之间的表现。使用线性模型检验认知分数与区域皮质厚度和区域划分之间的关系。结果：与未暴露的相比，暴露于AAS的举重运动员在几个认知领域的表现明显较差，与年龄、教育程度、言语智商和暴露于经典滥用药物的情况无关。在加工速度(ETA(2)(P)=0.07)、工作记忆(ETA(2)(P)=0.08)和解决问题(ETA(2)(P)=0.09)方面的影响最大。使用AAS的时间越长，记忆功能越差(ETA(2)(P)=0.11)。在AAS使用者中，记忆力和工作记忆表现较好的个体分别拥有较厚的额顶皮质和较大的内侧额叶表面积。结论：长期使用大剂量AAS与多个领域的认知功能较差有关，观察到的皮质脑形态测量与记忆和工作记忆表现之间的区域关联可能表明不同的基于大脑的机制。公众、卫生保健专业人员和政策制定者应该意识到，大剂量使用AAS可能会导致大脑健康和认知能力下降。一般科学摘要主要用于肌肉锻炼的合成雄激素(AAS)可能会带来一系列健康后果。其中最少研究的是它们对大脑和认知的潜在影响。在迄今为止最大的样本中，我们发现长期使用大剂量AAS与几个领域的认知表现较差有关。认知障碍可能是我们必须意识到的长期使用AAS的一种尚未得到充分研究的副作用。
Objective: To test for associations between long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use and cognitive functioning, and establish a candidate neuronal basis by assessing the associations between cognitive performance and brain morphology both in users and nonusers. Method: Eighty four previous or current AAS-users and 69 non-AAS-using male weightlifters aged 19-75 years (mean 32.6, SD 8.8) underwent MRI of the brain and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Performance on fine motor speed, speed of processing, learning and memory, working memory, executive functioning, and problem solving was compared between the groups, and between AAS users with short versus long AAS exposure. Associations between cognitive scores and regional cortical thickness and arealization defined using FreeSurfer were tested using linear models. Results: Relative to nonexposed, AAS-exposed weightlifters performed significantly worse on several cognitive domains, independent of age, education, verbal IQ, and exposure to classical drugs of abuse. Strongest effects were observed for speed of processing (eta(2)(p) = .07), working memory (eta(2)(p) = .08) and problem solving (eta(2)(p) = .09). Longer duration of AAS-use was associated with poorer memory function (eta(2)(p) = .11). Within AAS users, individuals with better memory and working memory performance had with thicker frontoparietal cortex and larger medial frontal surface area, respectively. Conclusions: Prolonged high-dose AAS use is associated with poorer cognitive function across multiple domains, and the observed regional associations between cortical brain morphometry and memory and working memory performance may suggest differential brain-based mechanisms. The public, health care professionals, and policymakers should be aware that use of AAS in large doses potentially could lead to poorer brain health and cognition.General Scientific SummaryAnabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), primarily used for muscle-building purposes, may bring a range of health consequences. Among the least studied are their potential consequences on brain and cognition. In the largest sample to date we found that high-dose long-term AAS use was associated with poorer cognitive performance across several domains. Cognitive impairment may constitute a hitherto understudied side effect of long-term AAS use that we must be aware of.