Alzheimer’s and low FT3: Any info please 😀 I... - Thyroid UK

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Alzheimer’s and low FT3

NWA6 profile image
NWA6
11 Replies

Any info please 😀 I feel like I’ve just stumbled on to something revolutionary for my Dad. Diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s but 10yrs later he’s not presenting as expected ie he puzzles the Drs as he’s still so ‘well’ and no liaisons on his brain. What if it’s low FT3. I’m getting both my parents private Testing for thyroid and vitamins but in the meantime anyone has any links, I need to get reading 😀

TIA

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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

7 Conditions Masquerading As Dementia

greenmedinfo.com/blog/7-con...

6. Thyroid and other hormonal imbalances. Many people diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia simply have low levels of T3 thyroid hormone. However, standard thyroid tests completely miss T3 levels, and Synthroid (T4) doesn't help. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of all nursing home residents may be there because of low T3.

Not sure how the article would stand up as "evidence" though.

NWA6 profile image
NWA6 in reply toSeasideSusie

Nothing seems to stand up as ‘evidence’ atm. I have low FT3 and heterozygous DIO2, which also doesn’t stand up as ‘evidence’ but it got me curious about genes.

Well actually my husbands 23andme genetic testing which showed that he has ‘native american’ ancestry, whilst he is blonde haired and blue eyed is what actually got me interested in genes. Off topic but you get what I mean 🤔

JumpJiving profile image
JumpJiving in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you SeasideSusie - that's really interesting. My elderly mother is currently being put through the Memory Assessment Clinic, where they are clearly trying to check for dementia amongst other things. When she has her next appointment, I will go along and ask about testing of FT3 levels (as well as B12 and possibly re. the DIO2 gene). I have long wondered if my mother has a thyroid problem (we have so many symptoms in common), but the one time the GP tested they said she didn't. Given that they probably only did the TSH level, and probably did the "it's in range" thing, then her FT3 could well be low. I figure the argument that running a few blood tests is far cheaper than doing a brain scan (the next thing they plan to do), they might be persuaded to do a proper blood test.

NWA6 profile image
NWA6

Gosh Ive have no idea 🤷‍♀️ They live in Ireland and I only really see them here in my home in England so I’m trying to co ordinate things from here.

What’s your thinking on ‘cookware’ and water?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Paula

I've just clicked onto "Recently Active" and this post has been resurrected by someone posting a reply a few minutes ago. You should find it interesting.

Diogenes linked to a study

"Low serum concentration of free triiodothyronine (FT3) is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease"

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

NWA6 profile image
NWA6 in reply toSeasideSusie

Well now isn’t that something! I literally spoke to my mum last week to let her know about my state of health and what’s next ect. I told her about my DIO2 test and we were talking about families as She and her mother are both hypothyroid and my sister Hyperthyroid. She has never been ‘well’ and when I try and push for more info she says that her doc always says she’s ‘normal’ But now I’m getting a bit more knowledgable I feel more confident in helping her. But then out of the blue I said ‘wouldn’t it be funny if it was Dad that had passed on the faulty gene’

Then I said ‘what if Dad doesn’t have Alzheimer’s but his thyriod isn’t working’

Then I forgot, I’m Hypo atm so not unusual, then it came to mind today again, obviously playing on my mind.

I’ll probably post their results and get opinions and then 🤷‍♀️ maybe a fight to get treatment, I dunno, I’m jumping the gun. I’ll have to wait for them to get back off holiday ect ect.

NWA6 profile image
NWA6

Ok! I’ll look into it.

heathermr profile image
heathermr

I was diagnosed with Alzheimers nearly 15 years ago when I was extremely ill with chronic hypothyroidism. At the time they had no idea how to treat me as I do not have a TSH due to a head injury. I was close to going into a myxoedema coma and my dementia was increasing rapidly when I finally sorted out that I needed T3 medication. As soon as I started just T3 medication I began to improve and by 24 months later my dementia dr was amazed that I had actually improved on my dementia score. So much so he has backed my fight to retain T3 being prescribed for me on the NHS. It's now 15 years since I was diagnosed and I am doing well although still declining slowly on the memory front. As I take my T3 in small amounts throughout the day I can soon tell if I forget a tablet! I cannot take T4 but I know how much brighter and more alive i feel after a dose of T3.

Heather

NWA6 profile image
NWA6 in reply toheathermr

Heather ❤️ What a fabulous story, thank you for sharing. I am so pleased that you got the T3 and that it helped enormously. My Dad has been on medication (I don’t know what) and we always assumed that his extremely early intervention is what has kept his decline at bay (that still may be the case, I’m not ruling it out) BUT over the years my mum and I have questioned the diagnosis and now with my googling I come across a link, that can’t be a coincidence, I just need to explore the possibility. I don’t fit the profile of a hypothyroid person. I’m not fat enough, I have huge huge hair, I don’t sleep enough ect ect All the symptoms that drs seem to be obsessed with. My Dad is the same.

My dad was "diagnosed" with dementia when he actually had pernicious anaemia. By the time the GP worked that out it was too late to repair the nerve damage. So be sure to get B12 and folate checked.

NWA6 profile image
NWA6 in reply toAngel_of_the_North

Will do thank you ❤️

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