Thyroid stimulating hormone, cognitive impairment and depression in an older korean population.
OBJECTIVE
Associations of thyroid dysfunction with cognitive impairment and depression in late-life have been described but remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate the associations of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels with cognitive impairment and depression after controlling for potential confounding factors.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 495 community residents aged 65 or over in whom serum TSH had been assayed. Cognitive impairment was defined using the Community Screening Interview for Dementia, and depression was diagnosed using the Geriatric Mental State schedule. Age, gender, education, smoking history, physical activity, blood pressure, diabetes, and serum total cholesterol and albumin were included as covariates.


RESULTS
There was a significant association between lower (hyperthyroid) serum TSH levels (<0.5 mIU/L) and cognitive impairment after adjustment [odds ratio 7.12 (95% confidence interval 1.35-37.5)]. However, no association was found between TSH levels and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on TSH levels, hyperthyroidism but not hypothyroidism was associated with cognitive impairment in this sample, and we found no evidence for an association of either with depression.
Department of Psychiatry and Center for Aging & Geriatrics (BK21 Program), Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Jae-Min
JM
Kim
Robert
R
Stewart
Seon-Young
SY
Kim
Kyung-Yeol
KY
Bae
Su-Jin
SJ
Yang
Sung-Wan
SW
Kim
Il-Seon
IS
Shin
Jin-Sang
JS
Yoon
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