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Serum thyroxine level and cognitive decline in euthyroid older women
S Volpato1, J M Guralnik, L P Fried
1Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. vlt@unife.it
Neurology
|April 10, 2002
Summary
In older women, low normal thyroxine (T4) levels are linked to increased cognitive decline. Thyroid hormone levels may impact cognitive function in aging individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism are known to cause cognitive impairment.
- Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in brain function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and cognitive performance changes over time.
- To examine cognitive decline in older women with normal thyroid function.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 464 women aged 65+ from the Women's Health and Aging Study.
- Measurement of T4 and TSH at baseline.
- Cognitive function assessed annually for 3 years using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
Main Results:
- Lower T4 levels within the normal range were associated with a greater decline in MMSE scores.
- Women in the lowest T4 tertile had double the risk of cognitive decline compared to those in the highest tertile.
- No association was found between TSH levels and cognitive function changes.
Conclusions:
- Low normal thyroxine (T4) levels are a risk factor for cognitive decline in older women.
- Thyroid hormone levels may influence cognitive impairment in physically impaired aging women.