Can too much testosterone make you dumb?

Posted on Sep 28th 2006 11:30AM by Adams Briscoe

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

Well, not really, but a new finding reveals that it can kill brain cells. This helps identify why some athletes are prone to "roid rage" when the substance is abused. What is really interesting is that when the body has too much testosterone, cells tend to "self-destruct" much in the same way that Alzheimer's patient cell's do.

The researchers explain that this may be the reason why so many gym aficionados on steroids tend to have wide mood swings and anger bouts. Long-term damage is being done to the brain cells due to excess in testosterone. They also tried the same thing with estrogen, but the results were quite different. Apparently estrogen is almost protective and there was less cell death.

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Tags: abuse, athlete, athletes, drugs, rage, roid, steroid

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)

J W Grieninger 10-04-2006 @ 10:13PM

There must be a connection between female maturation and intelligence. Girls who do better in grade school than boys seem to fall behind as they approach late teens. The boys catch up and pass them at the college level. Either there is a physical reason or young women get distracted by the mating process. Anyone else notice this?

J 10-04-2006 @ 10:21PM

Generally women with too much testosterone have what's called poly cystic ovarian syndrome...and it does cause male pattern hair growth and can make it just about impossible to lose weight (even if you exercise 4 hours a day 7 days a week and eat right), as well as many other issues. As far as decreasing womens brain cells, well scientifically, I can't say but since I suffer from PCOS, I would hope that it does not work the same in women, but it sure is a question I'd like to know the answer to.

William Iannarelli 10-05-2006 @ 12:49AM

When I was younger and had more testosterone I was Republican and way more stupid than I am now.

Mark Foley had too much testosterone and Mental Republitardation and look what happened there.

Brewt 10-04-2006 @ 10:29PM

Everybody is an expert on steroids and the abuse. Has anyone heard of Hypogonadism? A lot of men over 40 might want to check it out before expressing an opinion

Spooky 10-04-2006 @ 10:33PM

This totally makes sense and explains a lot about men and how they think....or don't think, I should say.

d 10-04-2006 @ 10:31PM

There is nothing wrong with using steroids to help your sports preformance. As long as you dont abuse it and no it does not make your package smaller. Testicles yes but actual penis no. If you want to get ripped and look stellar and have hit a wall in your workout routine there is nothing wrong with a couple of cycles of androgens, as long as you know what you are doing.

The Myth 10-04-2006 @ 10:50PM

Testosterone treatment has made my life 100X better than it was...I'm not an "A-Hole" and my daily life seems to be getting better as treatment goes on. My level was under the lowest level considered the norm. Bashing Test doesn't do anyone any good...If you want to do some good...Lets bash all the people that seem to live a care free life on welfare, lets lock up all the drug dealers for a minum of 10 years after strike 3. Be educated on the issues at hand...and not something that the body needs to survive. Just my humble opinion.

ej 10-04-2006 @ 10:53PM

Well!! this explains a lot!!

William 10-04-2006 @ 10:56PM

Look at the positive side of testosterone!The LORD created it and
used it to relieve stress of man and woman plus bringing lovely women to full bloom and fruition and fulfillment as mothers.Don't forget the sheer joy and peace it affords men. It is the one dis-
tinguishing factor of a man.

Vicki 10-04-2006 @ 10:59PM

I think there must be soemthing to this. As a married woman for 37 years, I can say my husband does seem to be thinking with less
gray matter>

Isaac 10-04-2006 @ 11:14PM

Its funny how people cannot wait to insult others, and to insult men by saying that testosterone makes them stupid and that it is no surprise, shows that people are immature and ignorant. I can't believe how readily you women insult guys...yet you all are attracted to the dumbest ones....imagine that. Many of you have underlying anger issues and secretly hate men because you all chose the wrong ones. Many of you didn't read correctly...too much testosterone cause dead brain cells...not the normal amount...and it doesn't make you dumb..I see the media has done it again.

Debbie 10-10-2006 @ 7:17PM

Might this at least partially explain why 4 times as many boys as girls have ADHD and autism?

Tom 10-04-2006 @ 11:30PM

I always thought there was a reason girls seemed to be so much smarter than we!!

Wolf 10-05-2006 @ 9:16AM

To little testosterone and you feel and look like an old man.
If I have to give up some cells to feel good and have something that you ladys want so be it.

Landon 10-06-2006 @ 3:47AM

I think it would be interesting to find the outcome of an excess amount of estrogen as well as testosterone ... if that were possible. I know that too much of anything is a bad idea; but what about compensating for such an over abundance? Just my thoughts.

Jennifer 10-04-2006 @ 11:45PM

To "The Myth":

I don't think anyone on welfare is living a "carefree life", they don't get enough $$ to come even CLOSE to carefree. That myth about "they keep popping out kids so they can get more money" is b.s. too because you get a set amount of money for 1 child and each additional child only increases your allowance by about 93.00 a month. So a single mom and child on state aid in MA only get $395.00 a month. If she had another child, it only goes up to $487.00 and any single mom with 2 kids knows that you can't live carefree on that kind of money. It's not worth becoming a baby-making machine like you're insinuating They're also required to put their child in daycare by a certain age and get a job to supplement their assistance, even if they're working for "free", ie volunteer work. Not everyone is ripping off the system lying around on their arse eating bon bons... they can't afford it!

Along that stream of your consciousness of "people to bash", why don't you add to your list all the fathers that get these women pregnant and then refuse to acknowledge their children and/or refuse to support them- costing their respective states millions of dollars every year trying to track them down on behalf of the mothers on welfare who for the most part, just want to give their children a drama-free normal childhood. But that's hard too because with only $150.00 a year for a clothing allowance, they'll be picked on in school, and come home to bare bones poverty. It can be a bleak and disheartening cycle.

On another note, no one mentioned that men with higher levels of testosterone are more prone to thinning hair/balding as well as higher libido and a higher risk of heart disease.

Christine 10-04-2006 @ 11:46PM

My favorite saying, when confronted with a particularly vulgar, stupid or obnoxious man is, "Testosterone kills brain cells." I've been saying it for years. And damned if I wasnt right. I feel so vindicated.

Tom Marchetto 10-04-2006 @ 11:48PM

The bottom line is everything in moderation people. If you take too much of anything you will probably have some type of negative. If you eat too much fast food, you get fat. If you drink too much alcohol, you get sick. If you have sex ten times a day, you will probably have a side effect. Yes? No? Maybe? The bottom line is men need testosterone for many bodily functions including mood, libido, and prevention of diseases like arthritis and loss of bone density. Last month they said testosterone was shown to protect the heart. Next they will say too much sex causes memory loss. Cmon, live a little

Jason 10-05-2006 @ 12:03AM

I don't take "roids" but I have taking moderate amounts of the more moderate over the counter version. Since I already have anger issues and I'm bi-polar...I think its time to stop.

Stan the Man 10-05-2006 @ 12:07AM

Men of the world, revolt today, tomorrow may be too late. This is the next step of the Women's Liberation Army. They have knocked men out of contention for a college education, have invaded and captured key management positions in the business world, and now are going to outlaw testosterone to protect us from being brain dead. For our own well being we will be injected with estrogen so we do not clog the legal and medical industries with our stupid behavior. We will be told that male behavior is curable and will also restore a thick head of hair, and a smooth body, so may enjoy. No more waxing the back, men!
Revolt now, men. The end is near.