Hormone replacement therapy with L-thyroxine promotes working memory and concentration in thyroidectomized female patients after differentiated thyroid carcinoma

• Published in: International journal of psychiatry in medicine 2020-03, Vol.55 (2), p.114-122
• Main Authors: Cordes, Joachim, Woite, Maya, Engelke, Christina, Regenbrecht, Gunnar, Kahl, Kai G, Schmidt-Kraepelin, Christian, Henning, Uwe, Kamp, Daniel, Klimke, Ansgar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hormone replacement therapy; Hypothyroidism; Memory; Mental depression; Thyroid cancer
• ISSN: 0091-2174; 1541-3527
• DOI: 10.1177/0091217419885751

Objective It is well established that long-term hypothyroidism is associated with cognitive deficits. Based on recent literature, we hypothesized that pharmacologically induced euthyroidism would lead to improved cognitive performance compared to a hypothyroid state. Methods We analyzed data from 14 nondepressed thyroidectomized female patients after differentiated thyroid carcinoma during hypothyroidism (due to a four-week withdrawal of thyroid hormone, T1) and euthyroidism brought about by substitution with L-thyroxine (T2). At both measurement points, patients completed a cognitive test battery as our dependent measure and Beck’s Depression Inventory to control depressive states. Results A Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed a significant improvement in the Rey–Osterrieth complex figure test (cognitive reproduction), Z = −3.183, p = 0.001, and the D2 concentration score, Z = −1.992, p = 0.046 in euthyroidism compared to hypothyroidism. Conclusions Our results confirm that hormone replacement therapy with L-thyroxine promotes cognitive reproduction and concentration in thyroidectomized female patients after differentiated thyroid carcinoma.