How are estrogen and testosterone similar?
Testosterone is the most significant hormone to male sexual development and function. But estrogen needs to stay in balance with testosterone to help control sex drive, the ability to have an erection, and the production of sperm. Testosterone naturally decreases as men age, while estrogen increases.
What does testosterone do to a female brain?
Brain imaging shows that testosterone therapy given as part of sex reassignment changes the brain structures and the pathway associated with speech and verbal fluency. This result supports research that women in general may deal with speech and interaction differently than men.
What effect does estrogen have on the brain?
In the central nervous system (CNS), estrogen has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow, provide anti-inflammatory effects, promote neuronal synapse activity, and exert both neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects on tissues in the brain.
Does testosterone increase brain function?
However, studies show that testosterone replacement can help increase your memory and concentration. Many men with low testosterone achieve higher scores on cognitive tests after starting a testosterone replacement regimen. Therefore, testosterone may play a role in brain health and cognitive function.
Does testosterone affect brain development?
It has been confirmed in several studies that testosterone can significantly affect brain development. Following metabolism of this hormone by 5α-reductase to dihydrotestosterone, testosterone may act via androgen receptors, or after conversion by aromatase to estradiol, it may act via estrogen receptors.
How do estrogen and testosterone affect the brain?
Results: Compared with controls, anti-androgen + estrogen treatment decreased brain volumes of male-to-female subjects towards female proportions, while androgen treatment in female-to-male subjects increased total brain and hypothalamus volumes towards male proportions.
Does estrogen help brain function?
For example, estrogen increases the concentration of an enzyme needed to synthesize acetylcholine, a brain chemical that’s critical for memory. Estrogen also enhances communication between neurons in the hippocampus, an area of the brain that is important for verbal memory.