The GH/IGF-I Axis and Cognitive Changes across a 4-Year Period in Healthy Adults

Abstract

After the age of 40, the amount of growth hormone in humans decreases. The reduced activity of the GH-IGF axis may play a role in age-related cognitive impairments. In the present study, mood and cognition of 30 healthy subjects (7 males, 23 females, aged 41–76 yr, mean age 60.9 ± 9.0 ) were examined twice. At baseline, we determined fasting blood levels of GH and IGF-I. Mood and cognitive status were assessed at baseline and after, on the average, 3 years and 9 months of followup. Working memory performance decreased over the years in the low IGF-group ( P = .007 ), but not the high IGF-I group. Higher levels of GH were related with a better working memory at the second test ( r = 0.42 , P = .01 ) while higher levels of IGF-I tended to be related with a better working memory ( r = 0.3 , P = .06 ). The results suggest that higher serum levels of GH and IGF-I preserve the quality of working memory functions over the years.