LSAT 137 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q5

LR Question 5 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The hormone testosterone protects brain cells from…

QUESTION TYPE: Complete The Argument

CONCLUSION: The argument will likely finish by saying that testosterone may help prevent Alzheimer’s.

REASONING: Testosterone lowers levels of a certain protein linked to Alzheimer’s, and testosterone also helps prevent brain injuries. Brain injuries are linked to Alzheimer’s.

ANALYSIS: Testosterone helps prevent two likely causes of Alzheimer’s. Therefore testosterone probably helps prevent Alzheimer’s as well.

___________

1. Way too strong. Just because injury can lead to Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean that it will. Otherwise just about everyone would have Alzheimer’s.
2. Nonsense. The stimulus clearly said that injuries can also affect the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s.
3. This gets things backwards. We know low testosterone may increase risk of Alzheimer’s, but that doesn’t mean Alzheimer’s will lower testosterone. That’s reversing cause and effect.
4. This is silly. It means I could hit you on the head with a hammer, but you’d be fine as long as you didn’t have Alzheimer’s.
5. CORRECT. This is well supported. Lower testosterone increases risk of brain injury and increases levels of beta-amyloid. Both are risk factors for Alzheimer’s.