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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

A Versatile, Behavioral Method to Investigate Thyroid Hormone Effects on Cerebellar Function
Published on: October 6, 2023
Longitudinal evidence of the impact of normal thyroid stimulating hormone variations on cognitive functioning in very
Ake Wahlin1, David Bunce, Tarja-Brita Robins Wahlin
1Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Division of Geriatric Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. ake.wahlin@neurotec.ki.se
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal associations among thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and cognitive performance. Data collected at the first three assessment times, approximately 3 years apart, are reported for the survivors (n=45) from a previously published cross-sectional study. Participants were aged 75-93 years at baseline, and data reported were collected in the Kungsholmen Project, a longitudinal project investigating aging and dementia. Analyses revealed that although declining verbal fluency and visuospatial abilities were accompanied by simultaneously declining TSH levels, the pattern of cross-sectional and longitudinal results are interpreted such that declining TSH levels may have caused episodic memory deficits later on. These results were obtained in the examination of 6-year but not 3-year change, and after removal of the cognitive variation associated with depressive mood symptoms.
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