Mental Changes Accompanying Thyroid Gland Dysfunction

L-thyroxine treatment and neurotransmitter levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of hypothyroid patients: a pilot study

“…In adults, these states are reversible and psychological testing of hypothyroid patients has consistently revealed that intellectual impairment subsides with thyroxine treatment (2,3).…”

The effects of thyroid state on beta-adrenergic and serotonergic receptors in rat brain

“…Clinical depression occurs in about 40% of hypothyroid patients, and in most of these patients replacement therapy produces prompt remission of depressive symptoms (Whybrow et al, 1969Sachar, 1975;Whybrow and Prange, 1981). In depressed patients activation of the thyroid axis, as indicated by increased secretion of thyroid hormones, is predictive of a rapid response to therapy with a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) (Whybrow and Prange, 1981).…”

Thyroid Hormone Effects on Sensory Perception, Mental Speed, Neuronal Excitability and Ion Channel Regulation

“…Later on slowed performance on the trail making test (part B) was shown in hypothyroid patients (78,87). Subsequently Osterweil et al (24) observed that the performance for Trail A was significantly slowed in old and very old hypothyroid patients as compared to age-matched controls and Wahlin et al (88) reported that TSH was predictive for Trail-B in very old persons.…”

“…Several reports have described mental changes in hypothyroidism, ranging from difficulties to perform simple calculations to memory impairments and finally to hallucinations (76)(77)(78)(79). Although these impairments are probably the most troublesome symptoms for the patients, it has been difficult to quantify cognitive problems in adult-onset hypothyroidism.…”