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Association between thyroid function and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review

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Abstract

Alterations in metabolic parameters have been associated with an increased risk of dementia, among which thyroid function has gained great importance in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in recent years. However, it remains unclear whether thyroid dysfunctions could influence and contribute to the beginning and/or progression of AD or if it results from AD. This systematic review was conducted to examine the association between thyroid hormone (TH) levels and AD. Medline, ISI Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Scopus, Scielo, and LILACS were searched, from January 2010 to March 2020. A total of 17 articles were selected. The studies reported alterations in TH and circadian rhythm in AD patients. Behavior, cognition, cerebral blood flow, and glucose consumption were correlated with TH deficits in AD patients. Whether thyroid dysfunctions and AD have a cause-effect relationship was inconclusive, however, the literature was able to provide enough data to corroborate a relationship between TH and AD. Although further studies are needed in this field, the current systematic review provides information that could help future investigations.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID, Chile) with a fellowship grant awarded to Paulina BS Figueroa PhD (grant #72190107), and by The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil) with a fellowship grant awarded to Ana FF Ferreira PhD (Grant # 2020/02109-3). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.

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Author notes

  1. Paulina Belén Sepulveda Figueroa and Ana Flávia Fernandes Ferreira these authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preclinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

    Paulina Belén Sepulveda Figueroa

  2. Laboratory of Neuronal Communication, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 1524 - Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brasil, 05508900

    Paulina Belén Sepulveda Figueroa & Andréa da Silva Torrão

  3. Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 1524 - Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brasil, 05508900

    Ana Flávia Fernandes Ferreira & Luiz Roberto Britto

  4. Department of Pediatrics and Child Surgery, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

    Arlette Patricia Doussoulin

Authors
  1. Paulina Belén Sepulveda Figueroa
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  2. Ana Flávia Fernandes Ferreira
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  3. Luiz Roberto Britto
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  4. Arlette Patricia Doussoulin
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  5. Andréa da Silva Torrão
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Contributions

PBSF, AFFF, and AST conceived the study. PBSF and AFFF performed the systematic search. AFFF and KHB performed the screening, data extraction process and analyzed the data. LRB, AD, and AST advised on methodology. PBSF and AFFF wrote the manuscript, which was revised critically by LRB, AD, and AST.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Paulina Belén Sepulveda Figueroa or Ana Flávia Fernandes Ferreira.

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Figueroa, P.B.S., Ferreira, A.F.F., Britto, L.R. et al. Association between thyroid function and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review. Metab Brain Dis 36, 1523–1543 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-021-00760-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-021-00760-1

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