Thyroid Levels Affect Women's Chances of Developing Alzheimer's Disease

Thyroid and Alzheimer's Disease

According to a report that was released on Monday, women who have abnormal thyroid function, such as low thyroid - called hypothyroid - or excessive thyroid hormone - called hyperthyroid - may have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life.

Pending more research on the issue of thyroid and Alzheimer's disease, it has not yet been determined if the reverse is true, meaning researchers have not yet determined if Alzheimer's can affect the thyroid function. These findings are consistent with previous research that has shown that there is a definite association between thyroid and memory loss.

The study was conducted by colleagues Dr. Zaldy Tan from the Hebrew Senior Life, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and professors at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. The colleagues focused on documented levels of a thyroid-regulating hormone, which is refereed to as thyrotropin. The priority of the study involved nearly two thousand otherwise healthy men and women above the age of seventy years old.

The researchers drew the blood of the study participants as part of a correlative study, the Framingham Health Study, in which virtually all members of a Massachusetts town had their health documented for decades. Dr. Tan revealed in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, that he and his colleagues followed the medical history of over two hundered of the study participants who had later developed Alzheimer's disease.

Women, Thyroid Levels and Alzheimer's Disease

It was found that women with reduced and those with elevated levels of thyrotropin had virtually double the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. And contrasting the same study, which was conducted on male participants, it was revealed that no such link was found in the male participants of the study.

What Causes the Link Between Thyroid and Alzheimer's Disease?

The link may develop after changes in the brain, which are caused by Alzheimer's disease, that later result in a reduction in the amount of thyrotropin released. Conversely, low or high thyrotropin levels could injure brain cells or blood vessels. It is also revealed, however, that the testing is preliminary and that the findings of the study need to be further tested in larger populations before a definitive relationship between thyroid and Alzheimer's disease is proven.

Study Results Limited

The scientists noted, however, that this research publication’s findings might be preliminary because of the limited availability of only a single thyrotropin substance without data on thyroxine levels, in addition to depression status and many other variables of illness that could affect thyroid hormone levels, or the use of antithyroid medications.

Study Exclusive to Caucasians

Also important to note, the findings of the study were conducted on a nearly all-Caucasian population, which suggests that the findings require further validation in more varied populations, according to Dr. Tan and his research partners. The authors also remarked that when analyses were focused on individuals with thyrotropin levels of nearly 0.5 to as high of a level of 5.0 mIU/L, the link between thyrotropin levels and Alzheimer's disease was less amplified.

The researchers wrote that this might suggest that a link between thyroid and Alzheimer's may have been related to individuals with more excessive thyrotropin values in the full analysis.

Consult a Professional

If you are interested in learning more about the link between thyroid levels and memory function, it is recommended that you consult with a professional health care provider who is experienced in the field of thyroid disease.

For further reading:

• http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Thyroid/tb/10293
• http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28503922.htm