Spatial Ability in Androgen-Deficient Men

Abstract

Several lines of previous evidence have suggested that androgens affect cognitive abilities. In an effort to characterize this defect, we compared 19 men with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with 19 control men and with five men with acquired hypergonadotropic hypogonadism that had developed after puberberty. The 19 patients with idiopathic hypogonadism had markedly impaired spatial ability in comparison to either controls or subjects with acquired hypogonadism (P<0.05). Moreover, the spatial ability of the patients correlated positively with their testicular volume (P<0.05). Androgen-replacement therapy in six of the patients did not improve their spatial ability.