JCEM: The beneficial effects of estrogen and insulin on divergent and aggregate cognitive functions of healthy young men

Background: There are few systematic studies on the cognition effects of estrogen and insulin on male individuals.
It is not clear whether these two hormones interact to benefit specific human cognitive functions
.

Objective: To explore the acute effects of estradiol and insulin combination medication on divergent (creative) and convergent (arithmetic) thinking and short-term and working language memory of healthy young men

Acute effects of combination of estradiol and insulin on divergent (creative) and convergent (arithmetic) thinking and short-term and working language memory of healthy young men

Method: The prescription was designed according to 2×2, and the two groups (n=16 in each group) received estradiol (100µg/24h) or placebo for 3d transdermal pretreatment, and instilled 160IU of regular people on two different mornings.
Insulin and placebo, and then complete a series of cognitive tests, and determine the relevant blood parameters
.

Results: Compared with placebo treatment, estrogen treatment induced a 3.
5-fold increase in serum estradiol and suppressed serum testosterone concentration by 70%
.

Compared with placebo, estrogen improves creative performance, that is, language fluency and flexibility, but it can't improve arithmetic thinking, it can also improve language short-term memory, but it can't improve visuospatial memory

Figure 1 Experimental process
.

A total of 16 healthy men in the two groups received transdermal absorption of estradiol (100 µg/24 hours, for 3 consecutive days) or placebo treatment, a total of 2 experimental periods

Figure 1 Experimental process

Figure 2 Endocrine parameters
.

(A) 17β-estradiol, (B) testosterone, (C) luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration, (D) blood glucose concentration and (E) insulin concentration

Figure 2 Endocrine parameters

Figure 3 Cognitive parameters
.

(A) Divergent thinking (average score of 6 tests), (B) aggregate thinking (total score of 4 questions), (C) instant recall of the first Verbal Learning and Memory Test (VLMT), (D) VLMT The recognition ability in, reflects the recognition of previously encoded words (minus false alarms), and (E) visuospatial memory

Figure 3 Cognitive parameters

Table 1 Results of divergent thinking test

Table 1 Results of divergent thinking test

Table 2 Results of Short-term Memory and Recognition Test (VLMT)

Table 2 Results of Short-term Memory and Recognition Test (VLMT)

Table 3 Working memory test results (digital breadth)

Table 3 Working memory test results (digital breadth)

Conclusion: Estrogen specifically enhances the core aspects of individual creativity and verbal memory in young men.
The combined use of estradiol and insulin can help delay recognition and memory
.

Our results show that the acute cognitive effect of insulin on young people is limited and will not be significantly enhanced by estradiol

Estrogen specifically enhances the core aspects of individual creativity and verbal memory in young men.

Krug R, Beier L, Lämmerhofer M,et al, Distinct and convergent beneficial effects of estrogen and insulin on cognitive function in healthy young men.

Distinct and convergent beneficial effects of estrogen and insulin on cognitive function in healthy young men.
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