Evaluation of Association Between Testosterone Levels, Dementia, and Adverse Mental Health Outcomes

February 17, 2026 updated by: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Evaluation of a Causal Association Between Testosterone Levels, Dementia, and Adverse Mental Health Outcomes: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis

This study evaluates the association between testosterone levels and risk of dementia and adverse mental health outcomes (e.g. depression and anxiety). It is not known whether low testosterone levels may be associated with an increased risk of dementia. Learning about the association between testosterone levels and risk of dementia may help determine the long-term effects of androgen deprivation therapy and may help improve quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To use a Mendelian randomization study design to determine whether genetically predicted decreased testosterone levels are associated with an increased risk of dementia.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To examine whether genetically predicted decreased testosterone levels are associated with worse cognitive function and adverse mental health outcomes.

OUTLINE:

Patients' records from institutional or national biobanks are reviewed.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • M D Anderson Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals have volunteered to participate in institutional or national biobanks

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Have volunteered to participate in institutional or national biobanks, mainly the UK Biobank and the Kaiser Permanente Research Bank, and those that have previously participated in studies that resulted in de-identified clinical and genetic data being make available on public archives, mainly the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP)
  • No special populations (adults unable to consent, individuals not yet adults, pregnant women, or prisoners)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Observational (biobank review)
Patients' records from institutional or national biobanks are reviewed.
Other: Electronic Health Record Review
Biobank records are reviewed

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Association between germline genetic predictors (single nucleotide variants) of lower testosterone levels and dementia risk
Time Frame: Up to 2 years
Will utilize genetic variants associated with testosterone levels at genome-wide statistical significance thresholds (P < 5 x 10-8) in published meta-analyses. Will additionally conduct a genome-wide association study with testosterone values in the UK Biobank. Will construct a weighted genetic risk score based on the strength of each variant's association with testosterone levels in published datasets. The results of the weighted method will be scaled per standard deviation (SD) of testosterone levels so that effect sizes represent the odds ratio of the outcome (e.g. dementia) per genetically predicted SD decrease in testosterone levels. Will also utilize risk scores with less stringent significance thresholds in secondary analyses (P < 5 x 10-6).
Up to 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depression
Time Frame: Up to 2 years
Association between low testosterone levels and depression will be examined. Will construct a weighted genetic risk score based on the strength of each variant's association with testosterone levels in published datasets. The results of the weighted method will be scaled per standard deviation (SD) of testosterone levels so that effect sizes represent the odds ratio of the outcome (e.g. dementia) per genetically predicted SD decrease in testosterone levels. Will also utilize risk scores with less stringent significance thresholds in secondary analyses (P < 5 x 10-6).
Up to 2 years
Anxiety
Time Frame: Up to 2 years
Association between low testosterone levels and anxiety will be examined. Will construct a weighted genetic risk score based on the strength of each variant's association with testosterone levels in published datasets. The results of the weighted method will be scaled per standard deviation (SD) of testosterone levels so that effect sizes represent the odds ratio of the outcome (e.g. dementia) per genetically predicted SD decrease in testosterone levels. Will also utilize risk scores with less stringent significance thresholds in secondary analyses (P < 5 x 10-6).
Up to 2 years
Cognitive/mental health
Time Frame: Up to 2 years
Association between low testosterone levels and cognitive/mental health will be examined. Will construct a weighted genetic risk score based on the strength of each variant's association with testosterone levels in published datasets. The results of the weighted method will be scaled per standard deviation (SD) of testosterone levels so that effect sizes represent the odds ratio of the outcome (e.g. dementia) per genetically predicted SD decrease in testosterone levels. Will also utilize risk scores with less stringent significance thresholds in secondary analyses (P < 5 x 10-6).
Up to 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kevin Nead, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 13, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 3, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 3, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

February 8, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 17, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2019-1061 (Other Identifier: M D Anderson Cancer Center)
  • NCI-2020-13782 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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