Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Levels and Depression in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses in a
Malcolm Forbes1, Tayler Watson2, Duncan J Topliss3
1Deakin University (MF, ML, MM, MB), School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Objective:
To investigate the association between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and depression in older adults.
Design:
Prospective cohort study with an 11-year follow-up period.
Setting:
Community-dwelling participants from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) randomized controlled trial and its follow-up observational study in Australia.
Participants:
About 9,050 adults aged ≥70 years with baseline TSH measurements and depression assessments. Participants with thyroid cancer, baseline depression, or thyroid-altering medications were excluded.
Measurements:
Depression was assessed annually using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) using a cut score of 12, and hospital admission records. TSH was measured at baseline and year 3, categorized as low (<0.34 mU/L), normal (0.34-3.75 mU/L), or high (>3.75 mU/L).
Results:
Cross-sectional analyses found no significant association between TSH levels and depression at baseline (p = 0.79) or year 3 (p = 0.054). Longitudinal analyses revealed no relationship between baseline or time-varying TSH levels and incident depression over the follow-up period (HR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.96-1.05).
Conclusions:
TSH levels are not associated with prevalent or incident depression in older community-dwelling adults. These findings should guide screening approaches for depression in older adults.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Depression: Overview
01:20Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The...
01:27Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
01:27Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
01:28Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs