PEDEvidence
Testosterone research
Human

Does testosterone treatment improve memory?

Daily gel versus placebo for 1 year; men aged 65 or older.

Demonstrated findings

In the 493-person memory-impaired subgroup, testosterone did not significantly improve verbal memory, visual memory, executive function or spatial ability versus placebo.

Limitations & adverse findings

This report shares the Testosterone Trials registration with other reports; it is not an independent trial population.

What might this mean? · interpretation

Improved hormone levels did not translate into cognitive gains on these tests.

What might this mean, and what would change the interpretation?

Older men with low testosterone and age-associated memory impairment; this does not resolve every cognitive question in younger adults.

What would clarify this: Replication in different populations using prespecified cognitive and daily-function outcomes.

Findings reviewed · abstract

Checked Sep 15, 2026 against the linked abstract. This reading note is not a formal risk-of-bias appraisal.

Download evidence card

An editorial reading note with a primary-source link. Interpretation is identified separately from observed results.