Dementia and Vasectomy

[firedoor]

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In 2007 researchers at Northwestern University published a report suggesting a possible correlation between vasectomy, primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia:

http://www.brain.northwestern.edu/pd..._Vasectomy.pdf

While the n was only 47, the hypothesis that vasectomy results in anti-sperm antibodies which may be neurotoxic seems plausable. The article ends commenting that the lead researcher planned to investigate whether their observation would bear out in a larger (and presumably more methodologically sound) study.

I'm interested to know if anyone has further information or thoughts on the issue.

 

[bluntdissector]

In 2007 researchers at Northwestern University published a report suggesting a possible correlation between vasectomy, primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia:

http://www.brain.northwestern.edu/pd..._Vasectomy.pdf

While the n was only 47, the hypothesis that vasectomy results in anti-sperm antibodies which may be neurotoxic seems plausable. The article ends commenting that the lead researcher planned to investigate whether their observation would bear out in a larger (and presumably more methodologically sound) study.

I'm interested to know if anyone has further information or thoughts on the issue.

Hi.

I followed the link, but saw it was a 'mainstream media' source. They often c*ck things up, but I assume they are reporting on this study.

I don't think it sounds very plausible, but then again, stranger things have happened. I found one study which couldn't repeat the association, and one which looked at the risks of having a vasectomy. Those might be a good place to start - and do report back on what you've found! 🙂

PS - JR Hodges has done a lot of work on PPA and FTD, and a search for:
"Hodges JR"[Author] AND vasectomy
revealed nothing in PubMed...so at least one leader in the field is unimpressed!

 

[firedoor]

Thanks for the information! I will certainly post should I find anything further.

 

[bluntdissector]

This might not go down well, BUT:

This thread was double posted under psychiatry. I thought the discussions on the two forums were quite hilarious - the neuro one is short, involves localizing the paper in question and then setting about solving it. The psych one involves a lot of talking and hand waving and no attempt to provide meaningful answers.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=756516

(I should add that some of my best friends are psychiatrists in training, and that I'm obviously stereotyping the fields...)