Research article summary (published 29 Nov 2004):

Preliminary study of the relationship between thyroid status and cognitive and neuropsychiatric functioning in euthyroid patients with Alzheimer dementia.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether variations within normal ranges of thyroid functioning are related to cognitive and neuropsychiatric functioning in Alzheimer disease (AD). BACKGROUND: Mild alterations of thyroid hormone levels, even in the normal range, are associated with changes in mood and cognitive functioning in older, nondemented adults, and lower concentrations of thyroid hormones have been shown to be associated with an increased risk for cognitive decline. Less is known about the relationship between thyroid hormone levels and cognitive and neuropsychiatric dysfunction in AD. METHOD: Twenty-eight euthyroid patients with AD on donepezil underwent evaluation of thyroid status, including measures of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4), and cognitive and neuropsychiatric assessment with the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and Visual Analog Mood Scales. RESULTS: Correlational analyses indicated statistically significant associations between FT4 concentrations and self-reported feelings of fear and fatigue. Fear and fatigue were negatively correlated with FT4. There were no significant relationships between thyroid hormones and cognition and other depressive and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this preliminary study support a relationship between thyroid status and neuropsychiatric symptoms in euthyroid individuals with AD, with lower concentrations of FT4 associated with fear and fatigue.

Author information

Author/s: Stern, Robert A (RA); Davis, Jennifer D (JD); Rogers, Brooke L (BL); Smith, Kristin E R (KE); Harrington, Colin J (CJ); Ott, Brian R (BR); Jackson, Ivor M D (IM); Prange, Arthur J (AJ);

Affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Robinson Suite 7800, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. bobstern(-atsign-)bu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Cognitive and behavioral neurology : official journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology (Cogn Behav Neurol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2004-Dec; vol 17 (issue 4) : pp 219-23

Dates: Created 2004/12/28; Completed 2005/05/31; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 15622018, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Affective Symptoms - blood; complications Aged Alzheimer Disease - blood; complications; drug therapy; psychology Cognition Disorders - blood; complications Cross-Sectional Studies Female Humans Indans - therapeutic use Male

Male Neuropsychological Tests Nootropic Agents - therapeutic use Piperidines - therapeutic use Severity of Illness Index Statistics, Nonparametric Thyroid Function Tests Thyrotropin - blood Thyroxine - blood

Associated Chemicals: Indans (0) ; Nootropic Agents (0) ; Piperidines (0) ; donepezil (120011-70-3) ; Thyroxine (7488-70-2) ; Thyrotropin (9002-71-5)

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