A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine has unveiled a connection that sheds new light on the health of our brains as we age.
It turns out that too much thyroid hormone, a condition known as thyrotoxicosis, might be linked to an increased risk of cognitive issues like memory problems or difficulty thinking clearly in people over 65.
Thyroid hormones are vital for our well-being, helping to control everything from how fast our heart beats to how quickly we burn calories.
But when there’s too much of it, either because of thyroid medication (exogenous thyrotoxicosis) or conditions that make the thyroid overactive (endogenous thyrotoxicosis, like hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease), it can cause trouble beyond the usual physical health concerns.
While past studies hinted at this connection, they didn’t always consider the effects of thyroid medication.
The researchers at Johns Hopkins filled this gap by looking closely at the medical records of 65,931 older adults who visited their primary care doctors between 2014 and 2023.
They found that people with too much thyroid hormone had a 39% higher chance of being diagnosed with a cognitive disorder.
By the time these individuals reached 75, about 11% of them faced cognitive challenges, compared to 6.4% of those with normal thyroid hormone levels. This gap widened with age, highlighting the importance of monitoring thyroid hormone levels, especially in our later years.
What’s more, the study pointed out that the risk of cognitive issues varied with the amount of excess thyroid hormone.
People exposed to higher levels of the hormone faced up to a 65% greater risk of cognitive disorders, suggesting that how much extra hormone there is plays a big role in the potential for brain health problems.
This information is crucial for doctors treating older adults with thyroid hormone therapy. It emphasizes the need for careful consideration and tailoring of treatment to avoid giving too much thyroid hormone, which could harm brain function over time.
The study not only adds a vital piece to the puzzle of how our body’s systems interact but also offers practical guidance for healthcare providers.
By understanding and addressing the delicate balance of thyroid hormone in older adults, we can help safeguard their cognitive health.
As we continue to explore the complex relationships between different health conditions and cognitive decline, studies like this one from Johns Hopkins Medicine are invaluable.
They not only deepen our understanding of the human body but also guide us towards more effective and safer treatments for the diverse challenges of aging.
For those keeping an eye on overall well-being, including blood pressure and heart health, this study serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of our body’s systems.
Recognizing the impact of thyroid health on the brain is a step forward in holistic health management, ensuring that treatments for one condition do not inadvertently lead to problems in another area.
As research progresses, we’ll likely discover even more about how to optimize our health for a sharper mind and a stronger body in our golden years.
For more information about dementia, please see recent studies about brain food: nourishing your mind to outsmart dementia and results showing that re-evaluating the role of diet in dementia risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about the power of healthy fats for brain health and results showing that Mediterranean diet may preserve brain volume in older adults.
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