Can Low Testosterone Cause Memory Loss?
Testosterone is primarily associated with hair growth and libido, so it may be surprising to learn that the hormone can have other effects on the rest of your body. Research is ongoing to find out how testosterone may affect brain function, but some studies have shown that testosterone is a significant hormone in many aspects of our physical and mental health.
But can low testosterone cause brain fog or memory loss?
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a sex hormone, known as an androgen, that’s crucial in the growth and development of both male and female bodies in early adolescence. Although both sexes require some testosterone to develop bone strength and muscle growth, men have significantly more testosterone than women as it’s required during puberty to lower the voice and cause hair growth.
Having too much or too little testosterone in childhood can have serious implications for a child’s development, so if puberty is starting very early or hasn’t yet happened as your child becomes a teenager, you should visit a doctor to have some health tests and find the cause of the problem. Testosterone levels peak at around 19 years old and naturally drop steadily as men pass 30 to 40 years old. However, having too little or too much testosterone can have health complications for adults as well as children, and should be investigated as soon as possible.
Can Low Testosterone Cause Memory Loss?
Testosterone levels naturally decrease as we age, and our memories tend to fade as we get older, but correlation doesn’t always mean causation. However, studies have shown that older men with higher testosterone have better cognitive function than men of the same age with lower testosterone. Similar studies have been conducted on younger men and have shown no difference in mental function, or have shown the opposite; higher testosterone levels in young men may adversely affect their cognitive ability.
Therefore the evidence from the research conducted so far is largely inconclusive, however, there may be reason to believe that low testosterone levels in older males may affect their memories.
What Can Cause Brain Fog?
Brain fog is a term used to describe mild confusion, inability to recall important or basic information such as personal details and names quickly, and inability to concentrate. Brain fog can be experienced at any age and isn’t always associated with ageing; it’s usually caused by a lack of sleep so the brain isn’t well rested, stress which makes it difficult to focus on one task, or spending a lot of time looking at screens - potentially due to the blue light, the incredible amount of content available online or adjusting our eyes to brightness levels.
Some symptoms of testosterone deficiency are similar to those of brain fog, so if you have many symptoms related to your brain function with no known cause, a testosterone test may help you find the root of the problem.
How Does Low Testosterone Affect the Brain?
Many hormones in the body affect brain function, and testosterone is no different. It plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of healthy nerves in the brain as well as nerve repair after damage.
Brain nerve damage can be caused by a number of health issues such as high blood pressure, strokes, brain tumours or head injuries, which can also cause memory loss and confusion in many people, so if your memory has been affected after suffering one of these conditions, it may be the cause rather than a symptom of low testosterone levels. However, as testosterone is important to help repair these nerves, if your symptoms aren’t improving, or you’re experiencing other symptoms of low testosterone, it’s advisable to take a testosterone test.
Signs of Low Testosterone in Men
As a sex hormone, the most well-known symptom of low testosterone in men (although also present and usually overlooked in women) is having a low sex drive. This doesn’t necessarily mean infertility. However, there are a number of signs that can indicate a lack of testosterone, including:
- Tiredness
- Reduced muscle mass
- Irritability
- Erectile dysfunction
- Depression
- Memory issues
Depression and depressive disorders themselves can also cause many of these symptoms, so doctors may dismiss the idea of a hormonal issue and recommend treating depression or “low mood” with antidepressants or talking therapies. However, if you haven’t had any experiences of depressive episodes before, a family history of depressive disorders, or any significant event such as the loss of a loved one that may cause depression, it can be advantageous to take a testosterone test to make sure you have normal levels of testosterone.
In men, normal testosterone levels are between 300 and 1200 ng/dL (nanograms per decilitre of blood), although younger men will have higher levels within this range and older men will experience a decline in their testosterone levels. If your testosterone test shows your testosterone is below 300 ng/dL, however, you should visit your doctor to learn how you can increase your testosterone.
Increasing Your Testosterone Levels
If you live a healthy lifestyle and have low testosterone, increasing your testosterone levels naturally isn’t so easy. Exercising will temporarily raise your testosterone levels, but not enough to make significant changes in your overall health. Men who don’t live very healthy lives and have low levels of testosterone should stop bad habits and make changes to their lifestyles to naturally increase their testosterone.
Stopping Bad Habits
When we talk about bad habits in terms of health, we don’t mean picking your nose or scuffing your feet as you walk, but rather eating well, exercising and limiting drug use. Some ways of naturally increasing your testosterone levels can include:
- Stop smoking
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetable
- Stop drinking alcohol, or stop drinking alcohol to excess
- Drink plenty of water
It can be difficult to make significant changes to our lifestyles, especially in older age, however, the results can be significant. If you need help stopping smoking or getting physically active, the NHS has many useful resources to assist you.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
If you’ve taken a testosterone test and have abnormally low testosterone levels and have an otherwise healthy life, your doctor may recommend testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Depending on the severity of your testosterone deficiency and your preference, you can have testosterone administered in several ways, from patches attached to the skin to injections and dissolvable tablets. Each method is effective in raising testosterone levels over the course of 1 to 2 months, so you can speak to your doctor about which method is more convenient for you.
Why Take an At-Home Testosterone Test?
Getting a doctor’s appointment in the UK can be a painstakingly long process, with long wait times for appointments or first come first served appointments at inconvenient times, not to mention getting your GP to perform the medical tests that you think are necessary. But with testosterone tests that you can buy online and take at home, you can bypass this waiting process and take your healthcare into your own hands.
With affordable and reliable home test kits, such as Official Rapid Tests’ home testosterone test and advanced testosterone test, you can have your testosterone test delivered to your door the day after you order it, take it at a time that’s convenient to you, and have your results back within 3 working days. Your blood sample will be sent to a high-tech medical laboratory, so you can guarantee reliable results that you can send to your GP or take to your next appointment to speed up the process of receiving testosterone replacement therapy, or simply ease your mind if your results come back normal.
Buy Your Home Testosterone Test Kit Today!
Don’t spend any more time waiting for an appointment with your doctor for a testosterone blood test; buy Official Rapid Tests’ home testosterone test kit today and have your results back in no time!