PubMed paper on cognitive functioning and quali... - Thyroid UK

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PubMed paper on cognitive functioning and quality of life

nagasakih2o profile image
20 Replies

Interesting reading.....

In addition, I've read that higher levels of TgAB and FT3 can be detrimental:

Significant positive correlations were found between free T3 levels and processing speed as well as between TgAB levels and error rates on the executive function tests. More specifically, higher levels of free T3 were positively associated with longer completion times (or slower performance) on Trail Making Test. Higher levels of free T3 were also associated with slower completion times on the Tower of London test. Furthermore, higher levels of TgAB were positively correlated with more errors on the Trail Making Test, on the Word Fluency test, and on the Design Fluency test.

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helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

A link makes it easier to read! :-)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/299...

RockyPath profile image
RockyPath in reply tohelvella

The mean TSH for the group on LT4 was the same as the control. Wouldn’t this suggest that, on average, the treatment was not adequate?

I had months of normal-looking T3:T4 ratio, nice TSH like this cohort, and treatment with levothyroxine was simply failing.

jgelliss profile image
jgelliss in reply tohelvella

Helvella I would love to hear your input about T4 only . If I'm not mistaking I apologize in advance if I'm wrong that you might be dosing with T4 only .

My personal experience after my TT I was for 23 years dosing with T4 only . I can say that most of it was not pleasant and experienced many symptoms palpitations just being one of many . I also know that some thyroid patients dosing with T4 only are very happy and wouldn't think of adding any T3 to their T4 . I can only think that those doing well dosing with T4 only must be very good converters T4 to T3 . Unfortunately I'm not a good converter so a minute NDT for my T3 mix with my T4 with nutrients makes a huge difference .

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tojgelliss

For so many of us, we really don't know if we would be better off with some T3 added.

With all the difficulty of obtaining the T3, and then achieving fine dose control - possibly microgram by microgram - it isn't easy to try. Especially if we feel mostly OK on levothyroxine-only.

Even if we were to try, and decide that we might do better with a touch of T3, I think we'd always be wondering whether we can keep it going.

jgelliss profile image
jgelliss in reply tohelvella

Helvella Thank you so much for your very kind reply . I'm so so sorry that some who could possibly benefit with some T3/NDT can not get . There are some hard headed Dr's who really don't understand to or care about thyroid values/symptoms and don't know how to dose thyroid patients accordingly with T4 /NDT /T3 . It's awfully Sad .

It would be nice if this could change very soon .

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tojgelliss

I have a mental image of a dosing "machine" which can dole out individual tablets with any ratio of T4:T3. But even with such a machine and a readily available supply of T4 and T3, managing our doses would be a challenge for anyone.

jgelliss profile image
jgelliss in reply tohelvella

Your so so right Helvella .

Thanks for that Nakadsakih, it's useful to have some evidence that we don't all just recover fully on levo. And interesting to see the results on high T3.

Michael

vocalEK profile image
vocalEK in reply to

You must have been able to view the entire article, because high T3 wasn't mentioned in the abstract. How about saving me the $39.95 Karger wants to charge for access and let us know what the interesting results were for high T3?

in reply tovocalEK

Hi vocalEK,

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

This was the article I was looking at. I followed the link above but this might be one of the reference articles not the original. Can't quite remember, sorry Hashimotos brain fug. Hope it's of interest.

All the best Michael

RockyPath profile image
RockyPath

Could you please share the other article? It’s very useful.

Many thanks

nagasakih2o profile image
nagasakih2o in reply toRockyPath

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

RockyPath profile image
RockyPath

The article concludes “It has been previously reported that mild hypothyroidism can cause significant worsening of information processing speed, reduced efficiency in executive functions, and poorer learning (Osterweil et al., 1992; Haggerty et al., 1993; Baldini et al., 1997; Kalmijn et al., 2000; Zhu et al., 2006). Our results therefore demonstrate a similar relationship between higher levels of fT3 and TgAB within the normal range and tests of executive functions in healthy euthyroid women.”

And then goes on to discuss local, cellular production of T3 (which cannot be measured), which is likely the majority of T3 powering cognition. Therefore it seem they only concluded that the results of this particular study show more study is warranted in order to understand how cognition uses TH.

nagasakih2o profile image
nagasakih2o in reply toRockyPath

As ever, we all chase that elusive sweet spot.

Do you come Japan, why the name tag Nagasaki

nagasakih2o profile image
nagasakih2o in reply to

No, UK born and bred :)

I think there is some evidence that high free T3 at the expense of free T4 (ie low free T4) cause cognitive problems as some brain functions prefer T4. I think this means that you need the *right* levels of T3 and T4 for you and it is far more individual than bloods test ranges would have you believe

Marymary7 profile image
Marymary7 in reply toAngel_of_the_North

Interesting.

jgelliss profile image
jgelliss in reply toAngel_of_the_North

Thank You for your very sensible observation . I found that my cognitive performance was better with T4 . If I dosed with higher dose of T3/NDT I felt lethargic, irritable, and aches /pains , insomnia , weight issues . T3 and T4 doses should be very tailored for individuals . It's *Not* one size fits all .

Geetal profile image
Geetal

Many thanks. I shall get hold of the complete paper.

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