Testosterone May Not Alleviate Menopausal Brain Fog, Study Suggests

Testosterone may not effectively alleviate brain fog and memory problems experienced by menopausal women, according to a recent review of studies. Despite widespread claims on social media suggesting the hormone can treat these symptoms, including instances of women posing as men to obtain prescriptions online, experts assert that current evidence is insufficient to confirm these benefits.

Researchers at University College London (UCL) analyzed five studies involving 244 volunteers, averaging 57 years old, who received either a placebo or testosterone over periods ranging from four to 26 weeks. The review found no significant improvements in cognitive function among participants who took testosterone.

"The findings should be interpreted as insufficient to establish an effect, rather than as evidence of no effect," the researchers stated in the journal Reproduction and Fertility. Professor Aimee Spector, a senior author of the study, emphasized the need for further research to understand the relationship between testosterone and brain health.

"Social media is flooded with claims that testosterone improves memory and brain fog, and we hear of many women taking testosterone specifically to manage these symptoms during the menopause," Professor Spector said. "While there may be some anecdotal evidence for this in perimenopausal women, we cannot claim testosterone improves cognition during menopause without further evidence."

Dr. Alexandra Faulkner, the corresponding author from UCL's division of psychology and language sciences, added that the available evidence is limited and insufficient to determine the effect of testosterone therapy on cognition in women during and after menopause. She clarified that this points to a lack of sufficient evidence rather than evidence of a lack of effect.

The UCL team also noted that testosterone levels do not appear to decrease sharply during menopause but rather decline gradually from a woman's mid-20s or early 30s.

Approximately 13 million women in the UK are estimated to be peri- or menopausal. The NHS currently indicates that testosterone gel or cream may help improve low libido for some women experiencing menopause. Meanwhile, experts at Cardiff University are conducting a trial, expected to conclude in 2029, to investigate whether adding testosterone to standard hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can reduce menopausal symptoms beyond its impact on libido, including effects on cognition, exercise, and energy levels.