From the Guidelines
Thyroid disorders can cause cognitive issues and may be associated with transient global amnesia (TGA) in some cases, as thyroid hormone plays a crucial role in brain function and development throughout life. Both hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can affect brain function and cognition, with hypothyroidism often causing mental sluggishness, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and in severe cases, a condition called "myxedema coma" which can include significant cognitive impairment 1. Hyperthyroidism can lead to anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. While TGA (a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss) isn't directly caused by thyroid disorders, the metabolic changes and vascular effects from thyroid dysfunction could potentially trigger such episodes in susceptible individuals.
Some key points to consider include:
- Subclinical hyperthyroidism has been associated with atrial fibrillation, dementia, and, less clearly, with osteoporosis 1
- Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with poor obstetric outcomes and poor cognitive development in children, although evidence for dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and decreased quality of life in adults with subclinical hypothyroidism in the general population is inconsistent and less convincing 1
- Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to fatigue, weight gain, mental slowing, heart failure, and elevated lipid levels, while untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, osteoporosis, and neuropsychiatric problems 1
If you're experiencing cognitive issues or memory problems, it's essential to have your thyroid function tested with blood tests measuring TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), free T4, and possibly free T3 levels. Treatment depends on the specific thyroid condition - hypothyroidism is typically treated with levothyroxine (synthetic thyroid hormone) while hyperthyroidism may require medications like methimazole or propylthiouracil, radioactive iodine therapy, or sometimes surgery. Early detection and treatment of thyroid disorders can significantly improve cognitive function and overall quality of life.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Thyroid Dysfunction and Cognitive Issues
- Thyroid dysfunction, particularly overt hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis, has been associated with significant decrements in mood and cognitive function 2.
- Subclinical thyroid disease is not typically associated with major affective or cognitive dysfunction, although subtle deficits in specific cognitive domains may exist 2, 3.
- Patients with mild thyroid disease and significant distress related to mood or cognition may have independent diagnoses that should be evaluated and treated separately 2, 3.
Thyroid Dysfunction and Transient Global Amnesia
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest a link between thyroid dysfunction and transient global amnesia.
- However, thyroid dysfunction has been associated with cognitive decrements, including memory and executive function deficits 2, 3, 4.
- It is possible that severe thyroid dysfunction, such as overt hypothyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, may contribute to cognitive issues, including memory problems, but the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and transient global amnesia is not well established 5.
Cognitive Function and Thyroid Dysfunction
- A large individual participant data analysis found no consistent associations between thyroid dysfunction and cognitive function, cognitive decline, or incident dementia 4.
- The study suggested that subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are not associated with cognitive function, cognitive decline, or incident dementia 4.
- However, the study noted that no rigorous conclusions can be drawn regarding the role of overt thyroid dysfunction in risk of dementia 4.