Longitudinal evidence of the impact of normal thyroid stimulating hormone variations on cognitive functioning in very old age

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2005 Aug;30(7):625-37. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.01.010.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal associations among thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and cognitive performance. Data collected at the first three assessment times, approximately 3 years apart, are reported for the survivors (n=45) from a previously published cross-sectional study. Participants were aged 75-93 years at baseline, and data reported were collected in the Kungsholmen Project, a longitudinal project investigating aging and dementia. Analyses revealed that although declining verbal fluency and visuospatial abilities were accompanied by simultaneously declining TSH levels, the pattern of cross-sectional and longitudinal results are interpreted such that declining TSH levels may have caused episodic memory deficits later on. These results were obtained in the examination of 6-year but not 3-year change, and after removal of the cognitive variation associated with depressive mood symptoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Affect / physiology
  • Aged / physiology*
  • Aged / psychology*
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Death
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Space Perception / physiology
  • Sweden
  • Thyrotropin / physiology*
  • Thyroxine / blood
  • Triiodothyronine / blood
  • Verbal Behavior
  • Visual Perception / physiology

Substances

  • Triiodothyronine
  • Thyrotropin
  • Thyroxine