2D:4D digit ratio is associated with cognitive decline but not frailty in community‐dwelling older adults

Gonçalves, Celina; Coelho, Tiago; Machado, Sérgio; Rocha, Nuno

doi:10.1002/ajhb.23003

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Moreover, there was no significant relationship between 2D:4D and the performance of patients with AD or tauopathy in different memory tasks. Our results do not agree with previous studies on this topic in which the authors describe both higher [ 48 ] and lower [ 49 , 50 ] 2D:4D in female AD patients, higher 2D:4D in male AD patients compared with controls [ 49 ] and several associations with memory task performance [ 43 , 44 ]. Compared to these investigations, our study differs primarily in terms of sample characterization and diagnostic procedures.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, most other studies in the field describe significant findings for females. Goncalves et al (2017) [ 44 ] found a significant positive correlation with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score [ 45 ] in women, suggesting a preventive effect of low androgen exposure in utero for females. In a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of healthy women, the volume of the left posterior hippocampus, a brain region often atrophic in AD [ 46 ], was lower in females with masculinized 2D:4D [ 47 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Is Not Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease in the Elderly

Siegmann,

Olm,

Lenz

et al. 2023

Brain Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is influenced by sex hormones—estrogens and androgens in particular. However, the impact of prenatal sex hormone exposure is less clear; very few investigations have examined the relationship between the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D), a putative proxy for the ratio of prenatal estrogens to androgens, and AD, with inconsistent results among the few that have. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this relationship using methodologically robust metrics. In a 2 (sex) × 4 (group) MANOVA incorporating 108 participants (30 AD patients, 19 patients with tauopathy but no amyloidopathy, 31 clinical and 28 healthy age- and education-matched controls), the effects of sex and group on the dependent variables right and left 2D:4D were examined. We also explored the association between 2D:4D and the severity of AD symptoms assessed via neuropsychological examination. We did not find any significant differences in the right- and left-hand 2D:4D between patients with AD and the other groups; no significant associations between 2D:4D and neuropsychological task performances were found in the dementia groups. The 2D:4D of healthy women was significantly lower than that of depressed women without AD, i.e., clinical controls, but not significantly different from depressed female patients with AD. This investigation does not support the role of 2D:4D in the development or severity of AD in general, but suggests a potential role of 2D:4D for depression in women. Future studies are warranted to clarify whether 2D:4D can distinguish between early- and late-onset depression in women.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Is Not Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease in the Elderly

Siegmann,

Olm,

Lenz

et al. 2023

Brain Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Research regarding adult sex hormones and age-related cognitive decline and dementia has yielded mixed results [96]. One study regarding 2D:4D ratios found a statistically significant correlation between 2D:4D ratio and Mini-Mental State Examination scores in women, suggesting that lower prenatal exposure to testosterone is associated with lower cognitive decline [115]. Potential mechanisms behind associations of 2D:4D ratios with cognitive decline and dementia are currently not well understood.…”

Section: Prenatal Sex Hormone Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Do prenatal factors shape the risk for dementia?: A systematic review of the epidemiological evidence for the prenatal origins of dementia

Wiegersma

Boots

Langendam

et al. 2023

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Prenatal factors such as maternal stress, infection and nutrition affect fetal brain development and may also influence later risk for dementia. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide an overview of all studies which investigated the association between prenatal factors and later risk for dementia. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE and Embase for original human studies reporting on associations between prenatal factors and dementia from inception to 23 November 2022. Prenatal factors could be any factor assessed during pregnancy, at birth or postnatally, provided they were indicative of a prenatal exposure. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. We followed PRISMA guidelines for reporting. Results A total of 68 studies met eligibility criteria (including millions of individuals), assessing maternal age (N = 30), paternal age (N = 22), birth order (N = 15), season of birth (N = 16), place of birth (N = 13), prenatal influenza pandemic (N = 1) or Chinese famine exposure (N = 1), birth characteristics (N = 3) and prenatal hormone exposure (N = 4). We observed consistent results for birth in a generally less optimal environment (e.g. high infant mortality area) being associated with higher dementia risk. Lower and higher birth weight and prenatal famine exposure were associated with higher dementia risk. The studies on season of birth, digit ratio, prenatal influenza pandemic exposure, parental age and birth order showed inconsistent results and were hampered by relatively high risk of bias. Conclusion Our findings suggest that some prenatal factors, especially those related to a suboptimal prenatal environment, are associated with an increased dementia risk. As these associations may be confounded by factors such as parental socioeconomic status, more research is needed to examine the potential causal role of the prenatal environment in dementia.

show abstract

Models for predicting height from percutaneous lengths of the ulna and femur in a Ghanaian population

Amidu

Banyeh

Bani

et al. 2021

Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

2D:4D digit ratio is associated with cognitive decline but not frailty in community‐dwelling older adults

Abstract: We cannot ascertain any contribution of prenatal exposure to androgens to the frailty status of community-dwelling elderly people. We found that reduced prenatal exposure to testosterone in women may contribute to the prevention of cognitive decline in elderly women.

Cited by 3 publications

References 39 publications

Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Is Not Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease in the Elderly

Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Is Not Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease in the Elderly

Do prenatal factors shape the risk for dementia?: A systematic review of the epidemiological evidence for the prenatal origins of dementia

Models for predicting height from percutaneous lengths of the ulna and femur in a Ghanaian population

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About