Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2014 Nov;21(4):175-181. 10.0000/kjbp.2014.21.4.175.

Thyroid Hormones, Cognitive Impairment, Depression and Subjective Memory Complaint in Community-Dwelling Elders with Questionable Dementia in Korea

• Lee SN
• Jin HY
• Moon SW

• KMID: 2299843
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjbp.2014.21.4.175

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
It was the aim to examine the association of the thyroid-related hormones with cognitive function, depression, and subjective memory impairment in community-dwelling elders with questionable dementia.
METHODS
The sample consisted of 399 community residents with 'questionable dementia' aged 60 or over in whom serum thyroid-related hormones [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine] had been assayed. Cognitive impairment was defined using the Korean version of the Consortium Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease. Depression was diagnosed using the Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale and subjective memory complaint (SMC) was checked using the subjective memory complaints questionnaire (SMCQ). Age, gender, education, and the presence of apolipoprotein E epsilon4 were included as covariates.
RESULTS
There was a significant positive association between verbal fluency test (VFT) score and serum TSH levels (p = 0.01). There was a significant negative association between SMCQ total score and word list memory test (WLMT)(p = 0.002) or word list recall test (WLRT) score (p = 0.013).
CONCLUSIONS
Lower serum TSH levels were associated with semantic memory (VFT), and we found that SMC was associated with episodic memory (WLMT and WLRT) in this sample.

Keyword

Cognition; Depression; Thyroid hormones; Elderly

MeSH Terms

Aged
Alzheimer Disease
Apolipoproteins
Cognition
Dementia*
Depression*
Education
Humans
Korea
Memory*
Memory, Episodic
Semantics
Thyroid Hormones*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Apolipoproteins
Thyroid Hormones