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Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

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Published on: January 24, 2020

Thyroid function and cognitive decline in the MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study.

Eef Hogervorst¹, Felicia Huppert, Fiona E Matthews

¹Department of Human Sciences, Brockington building, Loughborough University, LE11 3TU Loughborough, UK. e.hogervorst@lboro.ac.uk

Psychoneuroendocrinology

|July 22, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

High thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are linked to lower cognitive performance in older adults. Even high-normal free thyroxine (FT4) levels may accelerate cognitive decline, suggesting careful thyroid assessment for elderly cognitive impairment.

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A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment

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Published on: January 11, 2020

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Endocrinology
Neuroscience

Background:

Thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism, is linked to cognitive impairment and dementia.
Cognitive function in aging populations is a significant public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels and cognitive performance in older adults.
To determine if thyroid hormone levels predict cognitive decline over a two-year period.

Main Methods:

A longitudinal study of 1047 participants aged over 64, without frailty or severe cognitive impairment at baseline.
Cognitive function assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and after 2 years.
Statistical analyses controlled for age, sex, education, mood, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Results:

Higher TSH levels were associated with lower MMSE scores at baseline, independent of FT4 and other factors.
High-normal FT4 levels were linked to worse MMSE performance and an increased risk of significant cognitive decline over 2 years in individuals without diagnosed thyroid disease.
A significant proportion of hypothyroidism cases (50%) were undiagnosed.

Conclusions:

Elderly individuals with cognitive impairment warrant thyroid function assessment, particularly for hypothyroidism.
High-normal FT4 levels may be associated with accelerated cognitive decline, even in euthyroid individuals, warranting further investigation.
Thyroxine supplementation in euthyroid individuals is not recommended based on potential neurotoxic effects and the possibility of lower optimal therapeutic TSH levels in the elderly.