Policies & Procedures
Maki Study Findings: Hormone Therapy Boosts Sexual Interest, but Not Memory
Hormone therapy in early post-menopause increases sexual interest, but does not improve memory, according to a study led by Pauline Maki, Ph.D., published in the Sept. 25 issue of Neurology. Dr. Maki and her colleagues enrolled 180 women ages 45 to 55 whose last menstrual cycle was in the past one to three years. The women were randomly assigned a placebo or a combination of estrogen and progesterone, known as Prempro, for four months. The study evaluated memory, attention, cognitive function, emotional status, sexuality and sleep.
No significant changes in cognitive function were identified in the women taking hormone therapy compared to the placebo group. Although previous smaller studies have suggested that estrogen provides cognitive benefits in recently menopausal women, Maki said progestin may counteract these positive effects. Women treated with hormone therapy reported a 32% increase in sexual thoughts and a 44% increase in sexual interest when compared to women taking placebo, according to the researchers. The study also found that women with vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, showed a reduction in symptoms and an improvement in overall quality-of-life when taking hormone therapy versus placebo. With UIC colleagues Dr. Maki is also investigating whether botanical therapy, such as black cohosh and red clover, might offer cognitive benefits for mid-life women.
A UIC press release on the topic appears in rotation on the UIC home page (www.uic.edu), on the UIC News Bureau page (www.news.uic.edu), and on public news web sites (Newswise, Eurekalert, etc). A UIC podcast link is at:
https://blackboard.uic.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/web/news/ podcasts/PdCst35-Sept24%2707-Maki.mp3
Other news outlets that have covered the story are:
Pliskin Speaks on Neuropsychology at NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter
Neil Pliskin, Ph.D., gave a talk Wed., Sept. 26, at the NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter. The topic of Dr. Pliskin’s presentation was “The Role of Neuropsychology in the Evaluation and Treatment of Chronic Mental Illness.”
Policies & Procedures
Over the next few months we will be providing and implementing Department Electronic, Network, Computing Policies and Procedures. All Department Policies and Procedures will be reviewed and endorsed by the Information Technology Steering Committee (ITSC) prior to presenting to the Department.
Because of our relationship to UIC and College of Medicine there are some Policies we automatically inherit. Two such policies:
- Information Security Policy - The University of Illinois
- University Guidelines on the Sale, Donation, or Transfer of Computer Hard Drives and Other Magnetic Media
These policies can be found on our web site using the following link: https://intranet.psych.uic.edu/is/ you will be required to “log-in” to access these policies.
We will make both of these policies (along with others forth coming) a part of new employee orientation, but to those of us already in the system we are asking that each of you please take the time to read these policies.
If you have any questions concerning any policy or procedure please let me know, thank you.
http://www.psych.uic.edu/thisweek
http://www.psych.uic.edu/whatsnew
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