Re: Questions related to cognition

From: John Hasenkam (johnh_at_faraway.)
Date: 09/29/04 

Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 15:56:12 +1000

"mj" <mh_mh81@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7b2de5cf.0409280604.6aa77200@posting.google.com...
> Hi,
>
> I happened to read your post and answers and I thought maybe I could
> shed some light on the subject. I happen to have Turner syndrome (as
> mentioned above, a rare condition). I recognize many of your problems
> and strenghts. I am also quite good verbally (mind my writing in this
> message because my native langage is not english). I had trouble
> learning to ride a bike and swimming (however I succeeded after trying
> somewhat longer than most others) and learning to drive a car was a
> disaster.. (I succeeded at last, after 2 years of driving lessons). I
> have read a bit about NLD, and what I recall is that people with NLD
> are very good verbally, so you could have nld, but I'm not a
> psychologist. As mentioned in the other post I don't think you have
> turner syndrome, you would have known by now (unless you are
> exceptionally small and have not started puberty yet at an age it
> would be expected). I think the most important is to have faith in
> yourself and keep trying. And maybe you could seek professional help
> if it is a huge problem for you (physiotherapist e.g.)
>
> good luck
>
> marianne

Thank you very much for your reply marianne. I was clutching at straws with
the Turner Syndrome idea but your response suggests I should sell hay for a
living. It also spurred two other possibilities the original poster should
consider:

1. Dysfunctional ovaries. Will need to see an endocrinologist for this,
blood series, probably a number of these, to determine hormone levels and
the like.

2. Over expression of aromatase. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts to
testosterone to estrogen. Again, rare condition and probably difficult to
measure, not even sure if the average endocrinologist would know about it.
If I recall correctly females have about 10% the T levels of males.

Your post also raises fascinating questions about the impact of sex hormones
on cerebral maturation and function, a very active area of research that
remains in its infancy.

Given that the principle impact in this case will relate to cerebral
maturation I strongly doubt that testosterone supplementation will help in
relation to the visual spatial problems. However testosterone
supplementation, for men and women, sometimes provides a beneficial effect
in relation to depression and recent research suggests that in men T loss is
associated with an increased risk of dementia. For a male though, that is
probably just concordant with the ensuing depression from loss of sexual
drive! With prudence, I wonder about supplementing T while at the same time
undertaking intensive training in visual spatial skills. There probably is
some research on this. Somewhere amongst the babble of literature.

John.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Testosterone supplementation
    ... daily on the skin for testosterone supplementation, ... the most common type of T supplementation these days. ... bio-identical human testosterone through the skin. ... cream onto your skin. ...
    (sci.med.diseases.osteoporosis)
  • Attn: Will Brink
    ... Testosterone therapy linked to prostate cancer? ... Small study finds male hormone supplementation associated with disease ... NEW YORK - Prostate cancer developed in 20 men within months to a few ... deficiency of the hormone, investigators report. ...
    (misc.fitness.weights)