Extreme Longevity is Associated with Increased Serum Thyrotropin

Overview

Journal J Clin Endocrinol Metab

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2009 Jan 23

PMID 19158193

Citations 81

Authors

Gil Atzmon

Nir Barzilai

Joseph G Hollowell

Martin I Surks

Ilan Gabriely

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Context: The distribution of serum TSH shifts progressively to higher concentrations with age.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether the population shift in TSH distribution to higher concentrations with aging extends to people of exceptional longevity, namely centenarians, and to assess the relationship between concentrations of TSH and free T(4) (FT4).

Design/setting/patients: We analyzed TSH, FT4, and TSH frequency distribution curves in thyroid disease-free Ashkenazi Jews with exceptional longevity (centenarians; median age, 98 yr), in younger Ashkenazi controls (median age, 72 yr), and in a population of thyroid disease-free individuals (median age, 68 yr) from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1998-2002 (NHANES controls).

Results: Serum TSH was significantly higher in centenarians [1.97 (0.42-7.15) mIU/liter] than in Ashkenazi controls [1.55 (0.46-4.55) mIU/liter] and NHANES controls [1.61 (0.39-6.29) mIU/liter] (median, 2.5 and 97.5 centiles) (P < 0.001). The TSH frequency distribution curve of centenarians was relatively similar in shape to controls but shifted significantly to higher TSH, including TSH concentration at peak frequency. The TSH distribution curve of the NHANES control group was superimposable to and not significantly different from the Ashkenazi controls. FT4 was similar in centenarians and Ashkenazi controls, and there was a significant inverse correlation between FT4 and TSH in both groups.

Conclusions: The TSH population shifts to higher concentrations with age appear to be a continuum that extends even to people with exceptional longevity. The inverse correlation between TSH and FT4 in our populations suggests that changes in negative feedback may contribute to exceptional longevity.

Citing Articles

Thyroid Function and Cognitive Decline: A Narrative Review.

Sinha S, Zietlow K, Papaleontiou M Endocr Pract. 2024; 30(11):1113-1118.

PMID: 39111592 PMC: 11800104. DOI: 10.1016/j.eprac.2024.07.013.

Changes in thyroid function and evolution of subclinical thyroid disease in older men.

Tan S, Chubb S, Flicker L, Almeida O, Golledge J, Hankey G Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2023; 100(2):170-180.

PMID: 38059618 PMC: 10952793. DOI: 10.1111/cen.14997.

Risks of suboptimal and excessive thyroid hormone replacement across ages.

Feldt-Rasmussen U, Effraimidis G, Bliddal S, Klose M J Endocrinol Invest. 2023; 47(5):1083-1090.

PMID: 38015369 PMC: 11035408. DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02229-7.

The ageing thyroid: implications for longevity and patient care.

van Heemst D Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2023; 20(1):5-15.

PMID: 37923847 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00911-7.

Consequences of undertreatment of hypothyroidism.

Feldt-Rasmussen U, Effraimidis G, Bliddal S, Klose M Endocrine. 2023; 84(2):301-308.

PMID: 37556077 PMC: 11076368. DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03460-1.

References

Bartke A, Brown-Borg H . Life extension in the dwarf mouse. Curr Top Dev Biol. 2004; 63:189-225. DOI: 10.1016/S0070-2153(04)63006-7. View

Mariotti S, Franceschi C, Cossarizza A, Pinchera A . The aging thyroid. Endocr Rev. 1995; 16(6):686-715. DOI: 10.1210/edrv-16-6-686. View

van den Beld A, Visser T, Feelders R, Grobbee D, Lamberts S . Thyroid hormone concentrations, disease, physical function, and mortality in elderly men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005; 90(12):6403-9. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2005-0872. View

Surks M, Hollowell J . Age-specific distribution of serum thyrotropin and antithyroid antibodies in the US population: implications for the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007; 92(12):4575-82. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2007-1499. View

Barzilai N, Gabriely I, Gabriely M, Iankowitz N, Sorkin J . Offspring of centenarians have a favorable lipid profile. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001; 49(1):76-9. DOI: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.49013.x. View

Magri F, Muzzoni B, Cravello L, Fioravanti M, Busconi L, Camozzi D . Thyroid function in physiological aging and in centenarians: possible relationships with some nutritional markers. Metabolism. 2002; 51(1):105-9. DOI: 10.1053/meta.2002.28968. View

Surks M, Ortiz E, Daniels G, Sawin C, Col N, Cobin R . Subclinical thyroid disease: scientific review and guidelines for diagnosis and management. JAMA. 2004; 291(2):228-38. DOI: 10.1001/jama.291.2.228. View

Ladenson P . Cardiovascular consequences of subclinical thyroid dysfunction: more smoke but no fire. Ann Intern Med. 2008; 148(11):880-1. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-148-11-200806030-00011. View

Ochs N, Auer R, Bauer D, Nanchen D, Gussekloo J, Cornuz J . Meta-analysis: subclinical thyroid dysfunction and the risk for coronary heart disease and mortality. Ann Intern Med. 2008; 148(11):832-45. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-148-11-200806030-00225. View

10.

Biondi B, Cooper D . The clinical significance of subclinical thyroid dysfunction. Endocr Rev. 2007; 29(1):76-131. DOI: 10.1210/er.2006-0043. View

11.

Razvi S, Shakoor A, Vanderpump M, Weaver J, Pearce S . The influence of age on the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and ischemic heart disease: a metaanalysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008; 93(8):2998-3007. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2008-0167. View

12.

TIETZ N, Shuey D, Wekstein D . Laboratory values in fit aging individuals--sexagenarians through centenarians. Clin Chem. 1992; 38(6):1167-85. View

13.

Barzilai N, Atzmon G, Schechter C, Schaefer E, Cupples A, Lipton R . Unique lipoprotein phenotype and genotype associated with exceptional longevity. JAMA. 2003; 290(15):2030-40. DOI: 10.1001/jama.290.15.2030. View

14.

Ravaglia G, Forti P, Maioli F, Nesi B, Pratelli L, Savarino L . Blood micronutrient and thyroid hormone concentrations in the oldest-old. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000; 85(6):2260-5. DOI: 10.1210/jcem.85.6.6627. View

15.

Brown-Borg H, Borg K, Meliska C, Bartke A . Dwarf mice and the ageing process. Nature. 1996; 384(6604):33. DOI: 10.1038/384033a0. View

16.

Buffenstein R, Pinto M . Endocrine function in naturally long-living small mammals. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2008; 299(1):101-11. PMC: 4399555. DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2008.04.021. View

17.

Gharib H, Tuttle R, Baskin H, Fish L, Singer P, McDermott M . Consensus Statement #1: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction: a joint statement on management from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Thyroid Association, and The Endocrine Society. Thyroid. 2005; 15(1):24-8. DOI: 10.1089/thy.2005.15.24. View

18.

Hollowell J, Staehling N, Flanders W, Hannon W, Gunter E, Spencer C . Serum TSH, T(4), and thyroid antibodies in the United States population (1988 to 1994): National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002; 87(2):489-99. DOI: 10.1210/jcem.87.2.8182. View

19.

Gussekloo J, van Exel E, de Craen A, Meinders A, Frolich M, Westendorp R . Thyroid status, disability and cognitive function, and survival in old age. JAMA. 2004; 292(21):2591-9. DOI: 10.1001/jama.292.21.2591. View

20.

Boucai L, Surks M . Reference limits of serum TSH and free T4 are significantly influenced by race and age in an urban outpatient medical practice. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2008; 70(5):788-93. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2008.03390.x. View