Persistent Finasteride Effects on Neuroactive Steroid Levels

[John_123]

New interesting research article by “Giatti S”, “Melcangi RC” et al, published on 2015 Dec 9:

“Effects of Subchronic Finasteride Treatment and Withdrawal on Neuroactive Steroid Levels and their Receptors in the Male Rat Brain”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26646518

After subchronic treatment (i.e., 20 days) the following effects were detected: (i) depending on the compartment considered, alteration in the levels of neuroactive steroids, not only in 5alpha-reduced metabolites but also in its precursors and in neuroactive steroids from other steroidogenic pathways and (ii) upregulation of androgen receptor in the cerebral cortex and beta3 subunit of GABA-A receptor in the cerebellum. One month after the last treatment (i.e., withdrawal period), some of these effects persisted (i.e., upregulation of androgen receptor in the cerebral cortex, increase of dihydroprogesterone in cerebellum, decrease of dihydrotestosterone in plasma). Moreover, other changes in neuroactive steroid levels, steroid receptors (i.e., upregulation of estrogen receptor alpha and downregulation of estrogen receptor beta in cerebral cortex) and GABA-A receptor subunits (i.e., decrease of alpha 4 and beta 3 mRNA levels in cerebral cortex) were detected. These findings suggest that finasteride treatment may have broad consequences for brain function.

The study shows that there were effects in neuroactive steroid levels and their receptors in the rat brain, some of which persisted even after finasteride treatment had been discontinued. It would be interesting to see a similar study showing if the same results can be found in human brain too.

[tab]

Like this study.

What has been found is sound with what we do experience. However I wouldn’t expect the “damage” to be confined to these areas.
These studies keep convincing me that a serious and broadband holistic approach is the only way possible at this time.
From wiki:

The cerebellum (Latin for “little brain”) is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses,[1] but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established. The cerebellum does not initiate movement, but it contributes to coordination, precision, and accurate timing. It receives input from sensory systems of the spinal cord and from other parts of the brain, and integrates these inputs to fine-tune motor activity.[2] Cerebellar damage produces disorders in fine movement, equilibrium, posture, and motor learning.[2]

The cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, attention, perception, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.

[Livingdead]

Cerebellar damage produces disorders in fine movement, equilibrium, posture, and motor learning.

Motor skills greatly improved for me after some years off. For a long time, it was even difficult to walk on a sidewalk where I would have to coordinate my movements with people coming in the other direction because I could not control them very well. It even became very hard to type on a keyboard, as if it was too complicate a task for my brain. I would say that language skills and memory have gotten better too, although I’m still very far from normal. Insomnia, anxiety, depression and fatigue are still terrible and I would definitely say neurosteroids are not alright.