What a new study showed.
The elderly with hypothyroidism face an increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new scientific study by scientists from the USA and Taiwan. The risk is even greater for those in need hormone replacement therapy and take medication.
Researchers at Brown University in Rhode Island, who published in the American Academy of Neurology’s journal Neurology, analyzed data on 7,843 people newly diagnosed with dementia and a similar number of people without dementia (the control group for comparison). , with an average age of 75 years. Of these, 102 had hypothyroidism and 133 had hyperthyroidism.
See here the scientific publication
Not found no association between hyperthyroidism and dementia. Of the people with dementia, 68 (0.9%) had hypothyroidism, compared with 34 people (0.4%) among those without dementia. Taking into account other factors that can affect the risk of dementia (gender, age, hypertension, diabetes, etc.), it was estimated that people over 65 with hypothyroidism had an 80% higher chance of dementia than their peers no thyroid problems.
Also, the study found that older people who took medication for their hypothyroidism were three times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those who did not take medication. On the other hand, in those under 65, a history of hypothyroidism did not appear to be associated with an increased likelihood of dementia.
In hypothyroidism the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, which can slow the metabolism, and symptoms include feeling tired, weight gain and sensitivity to cold. Conversely, in hyperthyroidism the gland produces too much hormone, causing the metabolism to increase and symptoms to include weight loss, rapid heartbeat, nervousness and anxiety.
“Although more research is needed to confirm these findings, people should be aware of thyroid problems as a possible risk factor for dementia and the need for treatments that can prevent or slow cognitive decline,” according to lead researcher Chien-Hsiang Weng.
RES-EMP
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