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


CONCLUSIONS
Lowered TSH within the normal range is a risk factor for AD, independent of several cerebrovascular risk factors and confounding variables.
van Osch
Liesbeth A D M
LA
Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing, Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford and Radcliffe Infirmary, UK.
Hogervorst
Eva
E
Combrinck
Marc
M
Smith
A David
AD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D012709:Serum Albumin; D006710:Homocysteine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D003404:Creatinine; D013974:Thyroxine