Article may be of interest

[Guineapiggy]

Article called "Be Advised: Thyroid Hormones May Increase Risk of Cognitive Disorders in Older Adults"

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medscape.com/viewarticle/99...

[Jazzw]

Thanks for sharing Guineapiggy, what an interesting find.

But I think I’ll take my chances. I think my risk of cognitive decline is probably a lot higher from being undermedicated.

I’m not seeing any mention of FT4 or FT3 levels in this article. Are they seriously generalising based on TSH levels alone?? Did I miss it? Has my cognitive decline already dropped too far owing to my suppressed TSH?

The pituitary-thyroid axis can be permanently impaired as a result of hyperthyroidism, meaning TSH never really recovers its sensitivity. Similarly, some on levothyroxine and even more on liothyronine will find their TSH goes rather lower than their doctors would like, despite FT4 and FT3 being in range. It’s not the precise measurement these researchers seem to believe it is.

Perfectly possible to have a suppressed TSH and be undermedicated.

[RedApple Administrator]

Previous discussion about this article here healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

[Jazzw in reply to RedApple]

Ahh, missed that! Thank you

[Guineapiggy in reply to Jazzw]

Likewise!

[DippyDame]

In addition, Chen said other studies have shown that treating patients with thyroid hormone either did not resolve the condition or negatively impacted anxiety, muscle strength, and bone density, or it increased the risk for arrhythmia. Therefore, it’s important to weight the risks vs the benefits.

It is important to understand thyroid function and thyroid hormones!!

Yet again the thinking is based on TSH, a pituitary hormone....not on thyroid hormone levels.

There is no mention of FT3 and FT4 ( just a brief mention of "thyroid hormones") without the Frees an accurate evaluation of thyroid function is impossible

The question is....Were those subjects adequately medicated based on FT3 and FT4 results, or was medication based solely on unreliable TSH results. as appears to be the case?

i suspect the problem was inadequate testing, wrong diagnoses and wrong medication.

I need high dose T3-only, my TSH is consequently suppressed but nobody will convince me that low TSH is a more important indicator than FT3 and FT4 levels. I am aged 78 and hypothyroid, my FT3 is high....following the thinking in this article I would be on my knees and very confused in no time due to lack of cellular T3.....and possibly diagnosed as having dementia.

A very old friend of mine ( also 78) is in care with advanced dementia...in the past I could not persuade her to have a full thyroid test. She trusted her GP. I wonder how she might be now had she had a full test which was correctly analysed and followed by correct medication. She had hypothyroid symptoms!

It beggars belief.

I'd suggest that this piece is badly written and indicates a serious lack of thyroid knowledge on the part of the author who is a freelance journalist!

It just gets worse!