Does hypothyroidism increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly?


Does hypothyroidism increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementiaDoes hypothyroidism increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly? If you’ve ever asked yourself that question you are among the many others who ponder it as well.

Roughly, four to 15 percent of Americans have subclinical hypothyroidism – underactive thyroid. Along with the usual symptoms of fatigue and weight gain, a study has found that a subclinical hypothyroidism diagnosis in those younger than the age of 75 puts them at risk for cognitive impairment and dementia.

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The Italian researchers looked at 13 studies that explored the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism on the brain. The researchers found that 56 percent of patients had an increased risk of cognitive function impairment and 81 percent had an increased risk of dementia.

Professor at Harvard School of Medicine James Hennessey said, “Mild, non-specific neuro-cognitive symptoms may be seen in subclinical hypothyroidism. Individuals with such symptoms deserve to have their thyroid function tested — and if they are clearly subclinical hypothyroid, levothyroxine therapy should be considered.”

“It turns out that our TSH levels tend to drift up with age, such that by the time we’re over 80, the upper limit of the TSH has been observed to be over six to seven. In these studies, people were considered to have subclinical hypothyroidism if their TSH levels were greater than four to five,” Dr. Hennessey explained.

He continued, “Diluting the sample with ‘normal’ people made it difficult to demonstrate that subclinical hypothyroidism had an adverse impact on cognition. The younger we are, the more likely it is that subclinical hypothyroidism will have an impact on cognition, as shown in this meta-analysis.”

Signs of subclinical hypothyroidism are often so subtle that most patients brush them off or believe these are signs of aging as opposed to a more serious underlying condition.

There are currently no guidelines for TSH screening, so if you start spotting the signs – dry skin, paleness, puffy face, constipation, hoarse voice, weight gain – you may want to have your levels checked by a doctor.

Hypothyroidism and its association with mild cognitive impairment in elderly

Whether your thyroid is overactive or underactive, either one can have implications on your health, including impact on the brain health. Hypothyroidism is associated with mild cognitive impairment in the elderly, and running thyroid tests is fairly common when individuals report memory problems.

In one study, researchers analyzed face-to-face interviews along with neurological and psychological tests. Patients were classified by thyroid function including euthyroid (with normally functioning thyroid), clinically hypothyroid, or having subclinical hypothyroidism. There were a total of 1,904 patients involved.

Of those involved, 316 were found to have mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment was found in 16.3 percent of euthyroid participants, 17.2 percent of clinically hypothyroid patients, and 17.7 percent of those with subclinical hypothyroidism. Normal factors that could play a role in mild cognitive impairments were age, education, and other medical conditions, but they were not found to have an impact on mild cognitive impairment as much as hypothyroidism did.

The researchers suggest performing additional studies as the results came up mixed.


Related Reading:

Hypothyroidism in women: Symptoms checklist and dietary recommendations

Hypothyroidism in women is a common condition in which the thyroid gland underproduces necessary thyroid hormones that help the body function. The thyroid is responsible for many functions, including metabolism and hair growth. Many hypothyroidism patients gain weight, for example, because their metabolism slows down. Continue reading…

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Hypothyroidism increases mortality risk among heart failure patients

Hypothyroidism increases mortality risk among heart failure patients. Researcher Dr. Connie Rhee said, “Our data suggest that mild hypothyroidism may, in fact, be harmful in specific populations, including people with heart failure. A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach may not be appropriate for assessing risk and determining whether treatment is required for subclinical hypothyroidism.” Continue reading…


Sources:
http://www.endocrineweb.com/news/thyroid-diseases/18229-mild-thyroid-disorder-could-hurt-brainpower
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2015-2046
http://www.thyroid.com.au/is-there-a-link-between-hypothyroidism-and-mild-cognitive-impairment-in-the-elderly/
http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1791529

Author Bio

Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.

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