A cross-section analysis of FT3 age-related changes in a group of old and oldest-old subjects, including centenarians' relatives, shows that a down-regulated thyroid function has a familial component and is related to longevity.
BACKGROUND
several studies suggest that a decreased thyroid activity might be favourable in oldest-old subjects and that subclinical thyroid hyperfunction may be detrimental.


OBJECTIVE
to verify whether declining levels of circulating thyroid hormones may contribute to longevity.


METHODS
cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
all subjects were born in Calabria (southern Italy) and their ancestry in the region was ascertained up to the grandparents.


METHODS
six hundred and four home-dwelling subjects (301 females, 303 males), divided into three groups: 278 individuals 60-85 years old; 179 children or nieces/nephews of centenarians who are 60-85 years old; 147 individuals older than 85 years.


METHODS
thyroid function parameters were measured in the frame of a comprehensive geriatric assessment.


RESULTS
FT3 and FT4 levels were negatively associated with age. Lower levels of FT3, FT4 and TSH were found in centenarians' children and nieces/nephews with respect to age-matched controls. Indeed, being a relative of centenarians qualified as an independent correlate of thyroid parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
age-related subtle thyroid hypofunction (either due to a familial component or due to a reset of the thyroid function occurring between the sixth and the eighth decade of life) appears to be related to longevity.
Corsonello
Andrea
A
Italian National Research Center on Aging, Cosenza, Italy.
Montesanto
Alberto
A
Berardelli
Maurizio
M
De Rango
Francesco
F
Dato
Serena
S
Mari
Vincenzo
V
Mazzei
Bruno
B
Lattanzio
Fabrizia
F
Passarino
Giuseppe
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000502:physiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*
D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine