Cognitive Dysfunction Following Finasteride Use: A Disproportionality Analysis of the Global Pharmacovigilance Database

The study analyzed data from 1967 to 2022 and found a significant association between finasteride use and cognitive dysfunction. Out of 54,766 adverse event cases related to finasteride use, 1,624 (2.97%) were linked to cognitive dysfunction. The reporting odds ratio (rOR) was 5.43 (95% CI 5.17–5.71), indicating a strong association. Most cases were serious (65.83%) and showed no signs of recovery (58.37%). Sensitivity analyses revealed that patients under 45 years old (rOR 7.30, 95% CI 6.39–8.35) and those with alopecia (rOR 5.52, 95% CI 5.15–5.91) reported more cognitive dysfunctions. The study concluded that there is an increased reporting of cognitive dysfunction associated with finasteride use, particularly among younger alopecia patients, and recommended caution when prescribing finasteride to this group.