Estrogen for Elderly Men With Dementia
To the Editor: In her special article, Mary V. Seeman, M.D. (1), does not comment on the possible relationship between female hormones and reduced aggressive behavior. Estrogen has been used to decrease aggressive physical behavior in elderly men with dementia (2). In another study, women with dementia who had never received estrogen scored higher on a rating scale for aggressive behavior than women with dementia who currently or formerly received estrogen (3).
Ironically, an article in the same issue of the Journal as Dr. Seeman’s (4) referred to the possible contribution of seasonal variations in testosterone levels to the occurrence of homicide. Perhaps aggressive behavior should be included as another example of a disturbance with hormone-mediated risks and buffers.
1. Seeman MV: Psychopathology in women and men: focus on female hormones. Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154:1641–1647Link, Google Scholar
2. Kyomen HH, Nobel KW, Wei JY: The use of estrogen to decrease aggressive physical behavior in elderly men with dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc 1991; 39:1110–1112Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
3. Wiseman EJ, Souder E, Liem PH: Estrogen use and psychiatric symptoms in women with dementia. Clin Gerontologist 1997; 18:81–82Crossref, Google Scholar
4. Tiihonen J, Räsänen P, Hakko H: Seasonal variation in the occurrence of homicide in Finland. Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154:1711–1714Link, Google Scholar
