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

    June 2025 in “ Frontiers in Neurology ”
    Hao Zhang, Hui Ou, Peng Zhao … Hua Huang
    Studysummary This study found a significant association between finasteride use and increased risk of memory impairment, highlighting the need for risk communication and routine cognitive monitoring for long-term users.
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    Research cited in this study 23

    1. Effect of 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors in Animal Models of Parkinson's Disease Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · 2024
    2. Analysis of Finasteride Treatment and Its Withdrawal in Rat Hypothalamus and Hippocampus at Whole-Transcriptome Level Journal of Endocrinological Investigation · 2024
    3. Finasteride Delays Atherosclerosis Progression in Mice and Is Associated With a Reduction in Plasma Cholesterol in Men Journal of lipid research · 2024
    4. Cognitive Dysfunction Following Finasteride Use: A Disproportionality Analysis of the Global Pharmacovigilance Database Expert Opinion on Drug Safety · 2023
    5. Association of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors With Dementia, Depression, and Suicide JAMA network open · 2022
    6. Global Online Interest in Finasteride Sexual Side Effects International Journal of Impotence Research · 2022
    7. Peripheral Neuroprotective and Immunomodulatory Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors in Parkinson's Disease Models Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2022
    8. The Potential Involvement of Cholinergic System in Finasteride Induced Cognitive Dysfunction Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2020
    9. Inhibition of 5α-Reductase Impairs Cognitive Performance, Alters Dendritic Morphology, and Increases Tau Phosphorylation in the Hippocampus of Male 3xTg-AD Mice Neuroscience · 2020
    10. Post-Finasteride Syndrome – Does It Really Exist? The Aging Male · 2019
    11. The Risk of Dementia with the Use of 5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitors Journal of the neurological sciences · 2017
    12. Neuroactive Steroid Levels and Psychiatric and Andrological Features in Post-Finasteride Patients The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · 2017
    13. Over-Expression of TSPO in the Hippocampal CA1 Area Alleviates Cognitive Dysfunction Caused by Lipopolysaccharide in Mice Brain Research · 2016
    14. Finasteride Has Regionally Different Effects on Brain Oxidative Stress and Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Acute Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatic Encephalopathy in Rats PLOS ONE · 2015
    15. Persistent Sexual Dysfunction and Suicidal Ideation in Young Men Treated with Low-Dose Finasteride: A Pharmacovigilance Study Pharmacotherapy · 2015
    16. Cognitive Effects of Testosterone and Finasteride Administration in Older Hypogonadal Men PubMed · 2014
    17. Persistent Sexual, Emotional, and Cognitive Impairment Post-Finasteride American Journal of Men's Health · 2014
    18. Neuroactive Steroid Levels Are Modified in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Post-Finasteride Patients Showing Persistent Sexual Side Effects and Anxious/Depressive Symptomatology The Journal of Sexual Medicine · 2013
    19. Finasteride Treatment Inhibits Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Male Mice Pharmacopsychiatry · 2010
    20. Involvement of Neurosteroids in the Anxiolytic-Like Effects of AC-5216 in Mice Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior · 2008
    21. Exogenous Testosterone Alone or With Finasteride Does Not Improve Measurements of Cognition in Healthy Older Men With Low Serum Testosterone International Journal of Andrology · 2007
    22. Finasteride Induced Depression: A Prospective Study BMC clinical pharmacology · 2006
    23. Neurosteroids Involved in Regulating Inhibition in the Inferior Colliculus Journal of Neurophysiology · 2006

    Related research 6

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    2. Clinical Observation on Acne Patients Taking Finasteride China Medical Abstract of Dermatology · 2013
    3. Finasteride in the Treatment of Japanese Men with Male Pattern Hair Loss PubMed · 2004
    4. Use of Finasteride in the Treatment of Men With Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings · 2003
    5. Advances in the Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Brief Review of Finasteride Studies PubMed · 2001
    6. Finasteride Inhibits 5α-Reductase Activity in Human Dermal Fibroblasts: Prediction of Its Therapeutic Application in Androgen-Related Skin Diseases International Journal of Dermatology · 1995