21 citations,
January 2020 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology” Lack or blocking of SRD5a, a key component in hormone creation, can lead to conditions like pseudohermaphrodism and affect hair growth, bone mass, muscle strength, and reproductive health. More research is needed on its regulation from fertilization to adulthood.
1 citations,
August 2015 in “Current Sexual Health Reports” 5α-reductase inhibitors can cause serious and possibly lasting sexual and psychological side effects.
Early NAS level changes affect alcohol consumption vulnerability.
31 citations,
November 2014 in “Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science” A natural steroid in the body may protect against eye damage in glaucoma.
34 citations,
May 2007 in “Neuroscience” Finasteride reduces alcohol withdrawal severity in male mice but increases it in female mice.
33 citations,
April 2015 in “Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity” 5α reductase inhibitors treat hair loss but may cause sexual side effects and risks.
31 citations,
March 2015 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Neuroactive steroids could become safe, effective treatments with more understanding of their complex brain actions and metabolism.
3 citations,
October 2010 in “Epilepsy Currents” Altered metabolism can help control seizures by changing brain signaling and energy use, suggesting new treatments for epilepsy.
1 citations,
January 2013 in “Advanced Biomedical Research” Men with more severe hair loss had a lower risk of schizophrenia, but hair loss and testosterone levels were not linked.
October 2010 in “Epilepsy Currents” Ketogenic diet, neurosteroids, and HMGB1-TLR4 signaling pathway are potential targets for new epilepsy treatments.
82 citations,
August 2006 in “Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior” Certain steroids in the brain affect mood and symptoms of depression, and treatments targeting these steroids show promise for improving these symptoms.
65 citations,
January 2011 in “Frontiers in Endocrinology” Neurosteroids show promise for treating epilepsy and more research is needed.
27 citations,
May 2015 in “Neuropharmacology” Dutasteride protects dopamine neurons in Parkinson's mice, but Finasteride doesn't.
20 citations,
November 2019 in “Biomolecules” Finasteride reduces response to stress and rewards, affecting behavior and mental health.
18 citations,
March 2020 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” The enzymes 5α-reductase and 3α/β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase help create brain-active substances from progesterone and testosterone, which could be used for treatment, but more research is needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
12 citations,
February 2017 in “Journal of neuroscience research” Removing certain brain receptors in mice worsens seizure severity and response to treatment during hormone withdrawal.
May 2024 in “Brain disorders” Agmatine may help reduce seizures linked to hormone changes in female rats.
1 citations,
January 2021 in “European Journal of Inflammation” Methylated flavonoids may effectively reduce depression and inflammation caused by finasteride.
8 citations,
April 2021 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation” Finasteride reduces opioid use and withdrawal symptoms in animals.
21 citations,
June 2005 in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research” Finasteride reduces alcohol withdrawal severity and anxiety in mice, but may increase withdrawal severity in some cases.
54 citations,
August 2005 in “Alcohol” Finasteride affects alcohol intake in male mice, possibly due to neurosteroids.
40 citations,
December 2019 in “Neurobiology of Stress” Neuroactive steroids show promise for treating mental and neurological disorders by targeting GABA_A receptors.
40 citations,
December 2012 in “Epilepsia” Neurosteroids change how GABA_A receptors work in the brain, which could be important for treating temporal lobe epilepsy.
24 citations,
December 2013 in “Sexual medicine reviews” Finasteride can cause sexual problems and depression in young men.
17 citations,
February 2014 in “The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology” 
123 citations,
December 2015 in “Journal of Neuroendocrinology” New targets for making and using brain-synthesized steroids could lead to better treatments for brain disorders and alcoholism.
17 citations,
November 2014 in “American Journal of Physiology-gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology” Finasteride helps brain function in rats with liver-related brain issues.
15 citations,
March 2020 in “Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia” Finasteride may cause lasting sexual, mental, and physical symptoms; use with caution.
12 citations,
April 2018 in “Physiology & Behavior” Finasteride raises suicide-linked aggression and stops clozapine's positive effects in schizophrenia animals.
11 citations,
August 2015 in “PLOS ONE” Finasteride affects brain stress and enzyme activity differently in various regions, possibly helping with liver-related brain issues.