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Extreme longevity is associated with increased serum thyrotropin.
Gil Atzmon1, Nir Barzilai, Joseph G Hollowell
1Department of MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|January 23, 2009
Summary
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels increase with age, a trend continuing in centenarians. This suggests that altered thyroid hormone feedback mechanisms may play a role in exceptional longevity.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
- Thyroid Research
Background:
- Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations typically rise with advancing age.
- Understanding age-related TSH changes is crucial for interpreting thyroid function in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the age-related shift in TSH distribution extends to centenarians.
- To examine the relationship between TSH and free thyroxine (FT4) in individuals with exceptional longevity.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of TSH and FT4 levels in centenarians, younger Ashkenazi controls, and US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) controls.
- Evaluation of TSH frequency distribution curves across the study groups.
- Assessment of the correlation between TSH and FT4 concentrations.
Main Results:
- Centenarians exhibited significantly higher serum TSH levels compared to both Ashkenazi and NHANES control groups.
- The TSH frequency distribution curve in centenarians was shifted towards higher concentrations, including the peak frequency.
- Free T4 (FT4) levels were comparable between centenarians and Ashkenazi controls, with a significant inverse correlation between FT4 and TSH.
Conclusions:
- The observed increase in TSH concentrations with age represents a continuum that includes individuals with exceptional longevity.
- The inverse correlation between TSH and FT4 suggests that modifications in the thyroid hormone negative feedback system may contribute to achieving exceptional longevity.
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