Sex Hormones Associate With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk and Survival

Affiliates

Stephen A. Goutman^1,2, David G. Stouffer³, Dae-Gyu Jang^1,2, Jihyun Park^{1, 2}, Benjamin J. Murdock^1,2, Richard J. Auchus^3,4,5

1. Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
2. NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
3. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
4. Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
5. Endocrinology and Metabolism Section, Medicine Service, LTC Charles S. Kettles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Journal

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology

Summary

This study from the University of Michigan looked at whether levels of sex hormones in the blood are linked to the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to how long people live after diagnosis. Researchers measured several hormones in blood samples from people with ALS and from people without ALS. They found that higher levels of one androgen hormone, 11-ketotestosterone, were associated with a higher chance of having ALS in both men and women. Among women, higher levels of several other hormones, including estrone and androstenedione, were also linked to ALS.

The study also found that women with ALS who had higher levels of estrone and estradiol tended to have shorter survival. No similar survival links were seen in men. While the study cannot show that hormones cause ALS, the results suggest that sex hormones—especially adrenal-derived hormones in women—may play a role in ALS risk and disease course and should be studied further.

Link to paper

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