Here’s an excellent study I posted elsewhere proving, via use of functional MRI, that functional brain connectivity and cognitive control are affected by loss of androgens.
Effects of androgen deprivation on brain function in prostate cancer patients – a prospective observational cohort analysis
Herta H Chao1,2,9*, Edward Uchio3, Sheng Zhang4, Sien Hu4, Sarah R Bednarski4, Xi Luo5, Michal Rose1,2, John Concato1,2,6 and Chiang-shan R Li
Abstract
Background
Despite a lack of consensus regarding effectiveness, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a common treatment for non-metastatic, low-risk prostate cancer. To examine a particular clinical concern regarding the possible impact of ADT on cognition, the current study combined neuropsychological testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess both brain activation during cognitive performance as well as the integrity of brain connectivity.
Methods
In a prospective observational cohort analysis of men with non-metastatic prostate cancer at a Veterans Affairs medical center, patients receiving ADT were compared with patients not receiving ADT at baseline and at 6 months. Assessments included fMRI, the N-back task (for working memory), the stop-signal task (for cognitive control), and a quality of life questionnaire.
Results
Among 36 patients enrolled (18 in each group), 30 completed study evaluations (15 in each group); 5 withdrew participation and 1 died. Results for the N-back task, stop-signal task, and quality of life were similar at 6 months vs. baseline in each group. In contrast, statistically significant associations were found between ADT use (vs. non use) and decreased medial prefrontal cortical activation during cognitive control, as well as decreased connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and other regions involved with cognitive control.
Conclusions
Although ADT for 6 months did not affect selected tests of cognitive function, brain activations during cognitive control and functional brain connectivity were impaired on fMRI. The long-term clinical implications of these changes are not known and warrant future study.
Keywords: Androgen deprivation; Prostate cancer; Brain function; Cognitive function
Full text here - biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/12/371
btw I second the notion that this isn’t ‘brain damage’ merely something that can be repaired if we are able to identify and treat the core problem of androgen resistance.