Possible link between TSH levels and Alzheimer's

[Woolly169]

Recently diagnosed hypothyroid so reading lots! Came across this article which has worried me a bit ... holtorfmed.com/alzheimers-d...

[Hypo101]

I personally really wouldn't worry. We are going to die of something and you can could get hit by a bus tomorrow. Just work on your health and how you feel here and now. Cross other bridges when/if you come too it. Nothing in life and health is guaranteed

[humanbean]

A correlation was found between the occurrence of Alzheimer’s and women whose TSH levels fell below 1.0 or had levels that remained above 2.1. Those that did not maintain levels in this range were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

The reaction of the medical profession to this would be that there isn't enough money to treat the huge number of people who would be declared hypothyroid or hyperthyroid, so it will just be ignored. The fact that treating thyroid dysfunction much earlier might save money will also be ignored.

[Hidden]

This is interesting. Personally at the age of 70 I am not at all worried and my TSH is 0.08

I feel fine and after all the other things that could happen why worry.

[silverfox7]

I read somewhere and sadly didn't make a note of it but the statement that people with this terrible problem in a group that were tested RE thyroid levels. Apparently all were low in FT3! There was no suggestion that they should be given any. Of course they may have just been untreated people with low T3 but showing worrying symptoms which looked to be Alzheimer's but either way treating the problem wasn't mentioned but it also made me wonder how many may have been wrongly diagnosed and not helped in any way.

[greygoose]

Given that TSH is an indicator of thyroid status, I would have thought that it would have been more relevant to test the actual thyroid hormones before coming to any conclusions - or even suggesting conclusions. Not all people with suppressed TSH, or TSH over 2.1, develop Alzheimer's, so this proves nothing. Just more conjecture.

[helvella Administrator in reply to greygoose]

Unfortunately, it is not entirely clear whether TSH levels are causing Alzheimer’s or if Alzheimer’s is impacting the thyroid in a way the changes TSH levels.

So it really gets us nowhere in any useful sense.

[Taminaone]

My mum was hypothyroid and only tested every year and told all fine which couldn't be true because the carers gave her levo either 25 or 75mcg not sure which, with her breakfast as no note inbox to say take on empty stomach. In the past, maybe in her 70s didn't always take them and she developed vascular dementia. At that time, end of 90s Alzheimer society were thinking dementia might be caused thru under active thyroid gland. This makes sense as if blood doesnt reach brain it is feasible. I worry too as I inherited hypothyroidism but if we watch our results and look after getting enough vitamin D and B12 etc we are doing all we can.

[Hidden in reply to Taminaone]

When I first came to the forum someone had posted a link to a seminar held by the PA Society held in the Midlands (I think it was them??) about the link between B12/B vits and dementia. A comprehensive study was carried out in the UK and it concluded that the vits reduced the levels of homocysteine, high levels being found in those with brain atrophy - brain scans were done before and after the study, which I think was 5 years. As we know those with hypothyroidism often have low levels of B12.

I haven't read the article in the opening post, but did they check B12 levels as well as TSH?

Edit - Couldn't leave the house without trying to find it, so here it is: Prof David Smith from about 3 min 30s at The PA Society Conf 2013:

youtube.com/watch?feature=p...

Just found that it was one of Marz gems

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Woolly169 - replied to someone else and can't remember if you get notified as well - great reading.

[LAHs in reply to Hidden]

OMG that you tube is excellent, I had no idea B12 was that important. It had me running to the 'fridge to find out what was the strength of the B12 I take! I only bought it because Marz always stresses it's importance in the whole TSH,T4,T3 mechanisms. Thanks Marz! And thanks SolSS for bringing it to my attention.

[Hidden in reply to LAHs]

Yeah, it's a bit of an eye opener! I have to stop myself being evangelical now about stuff I find out on here, but just want to pass on because like us, most don't know.

Google Sally Pacholok Could It be B12 the movie - ive only seen the trailer but i gather it's based upon her experience. Will watch it sometime.

[Glynisrose]

TSH can become irrelevent when at low levels. TSH is what most ignorant doctors use to titrate meds. There are lots of scare stories so ignore them.

[wano]

I second the B12/pernicious anemia possibility. It turns out that low levels carried for years can cause all sorts of misdiagnosed problems such as Alzeimer's and even Multiple Sclerosis. In combination with hypothyroidism, what a mess.

[JOLLYDOLLY]

Hi Woolly169,

I have had low TSH all my life and I am not bothered by the "links", we also have dementia in the family, lung conditions and heart disease. The ironic thing is, when they suspect that any dementia is present, one of the first tests they do is to check your TSH T3/T4 levels anyway. If you are taking your medication correctly, I think any of us have the same risks as anyone else.

I have read recently, that there is a link between B12 deficiency and dementia too! I also have that lol. I think there is a lot of scare mongering to be honest and at the end of the day, we are all going to pass away one day. Whatever you do there will always be something that kills you off. Happiness and keeping yourself as healthy as possible, is what keeps us all alive. Worrying does the opposite, it sure doesn't change the outcome.

Take care and no worrying

[heathermr]

There is also something called hypothyroidal dementia which sets in when a patient is incorrectly treated for hypothyroidism over a long period. This happened to me as my TSH was failing due to a head injury affecting the pituitary and I was so ill with my thyroid - Drs could not decide how to treat me as I had no TSH but extremely low values for T4 and T3, and I was deteriorating towards Mxyoedema. After a long hard fight and help from the folks on here I started on the right treatment for me, T3 and, although I still have a diagnosis of Dementia, it is not progressing normally, thank heavens. As long as I take my T3 I remain relatively stable mentally despite my memory being rather like Swiss Cheese, but as soon as I miss a dose I deteriorate quickly and become very confused and my dementia becomes very obvious. I had my diagnosis of Dementia at 50 and that's now almost 12 years ago. In the meantime I am living well with Dementia and popping the T3 pills!

Heather

[Lily288]

Hi Heathermr or anyone......

What exactly do you mean by a T3 pill or a T4 pill. Do you mean the levothyroxine hypothyroid meds or something else altogether? Thank you so much.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lily288]

T4 pill = levothyroxine - the most common thyroid hormone medicine

T3 pill = liothyronine - the infrequently prescribed thyroid hormone medicine

You can also, in some countries, get pills that have both T4 and T3 - whether synthetic or made from animal thyroid (usually pig).

The thyroid produces mostly T4 with some T3. The T4 is converted to T3 in various parts of the body (liver, kidneys, skeletal muscle, individual cells). In some people, this conversion does not happen as it needs to and such people very much need to take T3.