title: Thyroid hormones in extreme longevity.
abstract: The aim of the present review was to summarize knowledge about thyroid hormones (THs) and longevity. Longevity is a complex multifactorial phenomenon on which specific biological pathways, including hormonal networks involved in the regulation of homeostasis and survival, exert a strong impact. THs are the key responsible for growth, metabolism rate and energy expenditure, and help in maintaining cognition, bone and cardiovascular health. THs production and metabolism are fine tuned, and may help the organism to cope with a variety of environmental challenges. Experimental evidence suggests that hypothyroid state may favor longevity by reducing metabolism rate, oxidative stress and cell senescence. Data from human studies involving healthy subjects and centenarians seem to confirm this view, but THs changes observed in older patients affected by chronic diseases cannot be always interpreted as a protective adaptive mechanism aimed at reducing catabolism and prolonging survival. Medications, selected chronic diseases and multi-morbidity can interfere with thyroid function, and their impact is still to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology, Research Hospital of Cosenza, Italian National Research Centre on Aging (INRCA), 87100 Cosenza, Italy. Electronic address: sabrina16.sg@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garasto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montesanto
authors.affiliation: Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology, Research Hospital of Cosenza, Italian National Research Centre on Aging (INRCA), 87100 Cosenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corsonello
authors.affiliation: Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Centre on Aging (INRCA), 60124 Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lattanzio
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Dell'Angelo, 30121 Mestre, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passarino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prestipino Giarritta
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corica
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones
keywords: Age-related diseases; Aging; Centenarians; Longevity; Thyroid