Title: The Role of Sex Hormones, Oral Contraceptive Use, and its Parameters on Visuospatial Abilities, Verbal Fluency, and Verbal Memory
Abstract:Sex hormones can cross the blood-brain barrier and access brain regions underlying higher-order cognition. Containing synthetic sex hormones, oral contraceptives (OC) have been found to modulate visuo...Sex hormones can cross the blood-brain barrier and access brain regions underlying higher-order cognition. Containing synthetic sex hormones, oral contraceptives (OC) have been found to modulate visuospatial and verbal abilities, though inconsistencies have been found in the literature. Among possible explanations, certain OC use parameters (progestin androgenicity, synthetic hormone levels, duration of use) have not received consistent consideration. Thus, the objectives were to (1) examine group differences between men, combined OC users, and naturally cycling women (NC women; not using OC) in visuospatial abilities, verbal fluency, and verbal memory and (2) investigate the contribution of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones on these effects. We also aimed to (3) identify OC use parameters relevant to cognitive outcomes. In total, 71 combined OC users, 96 NC women, and 47 men underwent cognitive tests. Performance was compared based on hormonal milieus (OC, NC, men) and OC users’ contraceptive androgenicity (anti, low, high). Performance was also correlated with hormone levels and OC use duration. OC use dampened the sex difference that typically favors men in 3D visuospatial abilities, whereas its duration of use positively predicted verbal fluency. Moreover, OC users outperformed men in a delayed recall of a word list. Androgenicity and hormone levels did not predict performance in any task. These results highlight the importance of considering OC use duration. Results also did not support a role for androgenicity in cognition. Importantly, combined OC use (including prolonged use) does not impair visuospatial, verbal, and memory functions in a healthy young sample.Read More
Publication Year: 2023
Publication Date: 2023-01-01
Language: en
Type: preprint
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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