title: Verbal memory retrieval deficits associated with untreated hypothyroidism.
abstract: The effects of inadequate thyroid hormone availability to the brain on adult cognitive function are poorly understood. This study assessed the effects of hypothyroidism on cognitive function using a standard neuropsychological battery in 14 patients suffering from untreated hypothyroidism and complaining of subjective cognitive difficulties in comparison with 10 age-matched healthy comparison subjects. Significant differences between groups were limited to verbal memory retrieval as measured by the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). On short delay free recall, long delay free recall, and long delay cued recall, significant differences remained between groups despite the limited statistical power of this study. There were no significant results found between groups on attentional or nonverbal tasks. Results suggest that hypothyroid-related memory deficits are not attributable to an attentional deficit but rather to specific retrieval deficits.
authors: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors: Karen J
authors: KJ
authors: Miller
authors: Thomas D
authors: TD
authors: Parsons
authors: Peter C
authors: PC
authors: Whybrow
authors: Katja
authors: K
authors: Van Herle
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Rasgon
authors: Andre
authors: A
authors: Van Herle
authors: Dorothy
authors: D
authors: Martinez
authors: Dan H
authors: DH
authors: Silverman
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014825:Vocabulary