title: Thyroid antibodies, autoimmunity and cognitive decline: is there a population-based link?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autoimmunity is considered an uncommon but under-recognised cause of cognitive decline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 3,253 randomly selected subjects enrolled in the Hunter Community Study, aged 55-85 years, were assayed for thyrotropin stimulatory hormone, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). Cognitive function was assessed using the Audio Recorded Cognitive Screen (ARCS) tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TPO-Ab were found in 8.4% and ANA in 27.9% of the study population, of whom 3% had positive ENA findings. No relationship was found between the ARCS score and either TPO-Ab (coefficient = 0.133; 95% CI -0.20, 0.82, p = 0.616), ANA at a low (coefficient = 1.01; 95% CI -2.58, 0.55, p = 0.203) or a high titre (coefficient = -0.65; 95% CI -2.59, 1.28, p = 0.508), or ENA antibodies (coefficient = 5.12; 95% CI -0.53, 10.77; p = 0.076).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autoantibody findings are common in an aging population and are not associated with cognitive decline.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Napthali
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: Hunter Area Pathology Service, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Huy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia ; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia ; Neuropsychiatry Unit, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.affiliation: Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia ; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Roseanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.affiliation: Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia ; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.affiliation: Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia ; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oldmeadow
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia ; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia ; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Attia
keywords: Anti-nuclear antibodies; Autoantibodies; Autoimmune thyroiditis; Dementia; Encephalitis; Hashimoto disease; Mild cognitive impairment; Nuclear antigens