The Potential Involvement of Cholinergic System in Finasteride Induced Cognitive Dysfunction

November 2020 in “ Psychoneuroendocrinology ”

Ashutosh Ahire, Kala P. Nair, B.S. Shankaranarayana Rao, B.N. Srikumar

finasteride cholinergic system cognitive dysfunction Propecia

TLDR Finasteride might affect memory by impacting cholinergic system.

Finasteride, a drug used for hair loss, may cause cognitive dysfunction by affecting the cholinergic system, according to multiple studies on rats. However, further research is needed to confirm this potential side effect and understand the underlying mechanisms. The cholinergic system may play a role in the cognitive effects of finasteride, but more research is necessary to fully understand this connection.

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Research cited in this study

research Inhibition of 5α-Reductase Impairs Cognitive Performance, Alters Dendritic Morphology, and Increases Tau Phosphorylation in the Hippocampus of Male 3xTg-AD Mice

research The Steroidogenesis Inhibitor Finasteride Reduces the Response to Both Stressful and Rewarding Stimuli

research Repeated Finasteride Administration Induces Depression-Like Behavior in Adult Male Rats

research Treatment of Male Rats with Finasteride, an Inhibitor of 5alpha-Reductase Enzyme, Induces Long-Lasting Effects on Depressive-Like Behavior, Hippocampal Neurogenesis, Neuroinflammation, and Gut Microbiota Composition

research A Review of the FAERS Data on 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors: Implications for Postfinasteride Syndrome

research The Risk of Dementia with the Use of 5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitors

research Neuroactive Steroid Levels and Psychiatric and Andrological Features in Post-Finasteride Patients

research Association of Suicidality and Depression With 5α-Reductase Inhibitors

research Emotional Consequences of Finasteride: Fool’s Gold

research Investigation of the Plausibility of 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor Syndrome

research Finasteride Has Regionally Different Effects on Brain Oxidative Stress and Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Acute Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatic Encephalopathy in Rats

research Cognitive Effects of Testosterone and Finasteride Administration in Older Hypogonadal Men

research Persistent Sexual, Emotional, and Cognitive Impairment Post-Finasteride

research Patients Treated for Male Pattern Hair Loss with Finasteride Show Altered Levels of Neuroactive Steroids in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma After Discontinuation

research Neuroactive Steroid Levels Are Modified in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Post-Finasteride Patients Showing Persistent Sexual Side Effects and Anxious/Depressive Symptomatology

research Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Thoughts Among Former Users of Finasteride With Persistent Sexual Side Effects

research Steroid 5α-Reductase as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Schizophrenia and Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders

research Finasteride Treatment Inhibits Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Male Mice

research Studies on Neurosteroids XXV: Influence of a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, Finasteride, on Rat Brain Neurosteroid Levels and Metabolism

research Exogenous Testosterone Alone or With Finasteride Does Not Improve Measurements of Cognition in Healthy Older Men With Low Serum Testosterone

research Finasteride Induced Depression: A Prospective Study

research A New Look at the 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride

research Depression Related to Finasteride Administration for Androgenetic Alopecia

research Effects of the 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride on Serum Levels of Gonadal, Adrenal, and Hypophyseal Hormones and Its Clinical Significance: A Prospective Clinical Study

research Reversible Decreases of Fertility in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats Treated Orally with Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

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research Association Between Finasteride With Subjective Memory Deficits: A Study From The NHANES And FAERS Databases

research The Interaction Between Finasteride and Corticosterone Levels: Implications for Depression and Anxiety-Like Behavior and Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity in Male Rats

research Finasteride Inhibited Brain Dopaminergic System and Open-Field Behaviors in Adolescent Male Rats

research Neuroactive Steroid Levels and Psychiatric and Andrological Features in Post-Finasteride Patients

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