This is yet another paper reporting an increased risk of depression and dementia for men on ADT. So how does this study differ from previous reports on the cognitive and emotional impacts of ADT?
First, this paper focused on younger patients; i.e., those under the age of 65. The data are from 8,792 men not receiving ADT and 325 men who were on ADT. Their data were extracted from the TRICARE database. TRICARE is the medical insurance program for the US military and their family members.
Of the men on ADT, 12.0% developed depression and 7.4% showed the onset of dementia. Another 0.8% reported developing both neurocognitive problems. The authors also found that those problems were greater the longer the men were on ADT.
The researchers acknowledged that the stress of the military could in part account for a higher incidence of depression in this population than in the population at large. In general, men in the military have higher rates of mental health problems than those who are not in the military.
Overall, though, this is yet another study confirming that ADT can have a negative effect on one’s mood and memory. As the study authors note, it is important to screen for symptoms of depression and dementia, and to speak with a healthcare provider if you notice changes in mood or cognitive function. Treatment options are available, and it can be beneficial to seek treatment early.
To read the full article, see:
https://euoncology.europeanurology.com/article/S2588-9311(19)30129-4/fulltext
Tully, K.H., Nguyen, D.D., Herzog, P., Jin, G., Noldus, J., Nguyen, P.L., Kibel, A.S., Sun, M., McGregor, B., Basaria, S., & Trinh, Q.D. (2019). Risk of Dementia and Depression in Young and Middle-aged Men Presenting with Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer Treated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy. European Urology Oncology, pii: S2588-9311. Advance Online Publication. doi: 10.1016/j.euo.2019.08.003.