Angela Winkler1, Christian Weimar1, Karl-Heinz Jöckel2, Raimund Erbel3, Nico Dragano4, Martina Broecker-Preuss5, Susanne Moebus2, Dagmar Führer-Sakel6, Martha Dlugaj1. 1. Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. 2. Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Germany. 3. Clinic of Cardiology, West German Heart Centre, University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Germany. 4. Institute for Medical Sociology, Centre for Healthy and Society, University of Düsseldorf, Germany. 5. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Division of Laboratory Research, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. 6. Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although some studies reported on the association of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration and cognition, only one population-based study investigated the association of TSH concentration and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gender-specific association of low- and high-normal TSH concentrations with MCI in euthyroid participants. METHODS: Analysis sample 1 included 2,563 euthyroid participants (aged 50-80 years) from the second examination of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study. Gender-specific TSH quintiles (Q1 low, Q2-Q4 middle, Q5 high TSH concentration) were determined and group comparisons of age- and education-adjusted mean scores were performed for all cognitive subtests. Analysis sample 2 included 378 participants with MCI and 931 cognitively normal participants. MCI was diagnosed according to previously published MCI criteria. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed using TSH quintiles (Q2-Q4 as reference) to assess the association of low- and high-normal TSH concentration with MCI. Models were performed unadjusted and adjusted for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Group comparisons showed significant differences only in the immediate recall of the verbal memory task in women. Only women showed a strong association of high-normal TSH concentration with MCI (unadjusted: odds ratio 2.09, 95% confidence interval 1.29-3.37, full adjusted: 1.86, 1.06-3.27). There was no association with low-normal TSH concentration in women and no association of either low- or high-normal TSH concentration with MCI in men. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that women with high-normal TSH concentration might be at higher risk of cognitive decline. This needs to be confirmed in the longitudinal analysis.
BACKGROUND: Although some studies reported on the association of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration and cognition, only one population-based study investigated the association of TSH concentration and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gender-specific association of low- and high-normal TSH concentrations with MCI in euthyroid participants. METHODS: Analysis sample 1 included 2,563 euthyroid participants (aged 50-80 years) from the second examination of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study. Gender-specific TSH quintiles (Q1 low, Q2-Q4 middle, Q5 high TSH concentration) were determined and group comparisons of age- and education-adjusted mean scores were performed for all cognitive subtests. Analysis sample 2 included 378 participants with MCI and 931 cognitively normal participants. MCI was diagnosed according to previously published MCI criteria. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed using TSH quintiles (Q2-Q4 as reference) to assess the association of low- and high-normal TSH concentration with MCI. Models were performed unadjusted and adjusted for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Group comparisons showed significant differences only in the immediate recall of the verbal memory task in women. Only women showed a strong association of high-normal TSH concentration with MCI (unadjusted: odds ratio 2.09, 95% confidence interval 1.29-3.37, full adjusted: 1.86, 1.06-3.27). There was no association with low-normal TSH concentration in women and no association of either low- or high-normal TSH concentration with MCI in men. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that women with high-normal TSH concentration might be at higher risk of cognitive decline. This needs to be confirmed in the longitudinal analysis.
Authors: Antonietta Messina; Carolina De Fusco; Vincenzo Monda; Maria Esposito; Fiorenzo Moscatelli; Anna Valenzano; Marco Carotenuto; Emanuela Viggiano; Sergio Chieffi; Vincenzo De Luca; Giuseppe Cibelli; Marcellino Monda; Giovanni Messina Journal: Front Neural Circuits Date: 2016-08-25 Impact factor: 3.492