Low thyroid-stimulating hormone as an independent risk factor for Alzheimer disease

Journal article

Objective: To assess a possible relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, vascular risk factors, and Alzheimer disease (AD).
Methods: TSH levels were measured in 178 AD patients (35 confirmed post mortem) and 291 cognitively screened control subjects who were all euthyroid (TSH: 0.5 to 6 mU/L). The risk of AD was determined in participants with lower levels of TSH, several cerebrovascular risk factors, and other potential confounds.
Results: AD patients had significantly lower levels of TSH than control subjects. Lowered TSH was associated with a more than twofold increased risk of AD (odds ratio= 2.36, 95% CI = 1.19 to 4.67), independent of other risk factors.
Conclusion: Lowered TSH within the normal range is a risk factor for AD, independent of several cerebrovascular risk factors and confounding variables

Authors: Van Osch, L; Hogervorst, E; Combrinck, M; Smith, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Journal: Neurology
• Volume: 62
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 1967-1971
• Publication date: 2004-06-07
• Acceptance date: 2004-01-29
• DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000128134.84230.9f
• EISSN: 1526-632X
• ISSN: 0028-3878
• Language: English
• Keywords: SBTMR