Thyroid Disorders and Dementia Risk: A Nationwide Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Endocrinology
• Neurology

Background:

• Dementia prevalence is rising globally, particularly in aging populations.
• Thyroid disorders affect a significant portion of the population, yet their link to dementia remains understudied in Asian demographics.
• Investigating the correlation between thyroid dysfunction and dementia is crucial for public health in aging societies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) and the risk of dementia diagnosis.
• To specifically investigate this relationship within the Asian population using a large-scale dataset.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide population-based case-control study utilizing the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database.
• Inclusion of 7,843 adults with newly diagnosed dementia and 7,843 age- and sex-matched controls without dementia.
• Logistic regression models were employed, adjusting for various comorbidities and treatments.

Main Results:

• A history of hypothyroidism was significantly associated with an increased risk of dementia in adults aged 65 years or older (aOR 1.81).
• This association was not observed in the younger age group (50-64 years).
• Among older adults with hypothyroidism, those receiving medication showed a substantially higher dementia risk (aOR 3.17).

Conclusions:

• Hypothyroidism is a potential risk factor for dementia in individuals aged 65 and above.
• Thyroid hormone replacement therapy may further elevate dementia risk in this demographic.
• Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.