Alzheimer's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alzheimer's Disease, including details on diagnosis, memory loss, heredity, treatment, medication.

Increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Sampaolo S, Campos-Barros A, Mazziotti G, Carlomagno S, Sannino V, Amato G, Carella C, Di Iorio G

Department of Neurological Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy. simone.sampaolo@unina2.it

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of rT(3) were evaluated in 21 euthyroid patients with overt Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 18 matched healthy controls. The assessment also included transthyretin and total T(3) and T(4) CSF concentrations. Despite normal circulating thyroid hormone levels, AD subjects showed significantly increased rT(3) levels and an increased rT(3) to T(4) ratio in the face of unchanged CSF total T(4) and transthyretin levels. These results suggest an abnormal intracerebral thyroid hormone metabolism and possibly the occurrence of brain hypothyroidism, either as a secondary consequence of the ongoing process or as a cofactor in the progression of the disease.

Published 11 January 2005 in J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 90(1): 198-202.
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