Thyroid Dysfunction is Prevalent in Older Adults

Thyroid disorders have no age limits and the incidence of thyroid problems steadily increases with age.

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Thyroid Dysfunction

Helpful Highlights

Thyroid Gland Location

What is the thyroid?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, just below the Adam's apple. It plays a crucial role in regulating the body's metabolism by producing hormones that influence energy production, growth, and the functioning of organs and tissues throughout the body. The thyroid is controlled by the hypothalamus which releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which then stimulates the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

The thyroid volume decreases due to progressive fibrosis and atrophy with advancing age.

Why is thyroid health important?

In a sentence - because it is a powerful endocrine gland that affects different functions throughout the body.

When overactive (hyper-) or not active enough (hypo-), it affects your loved one's physical and mental well-being because of its impact on function (mobility and strength) and cognition (mental processing and clarity in thinking).

Low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) is present in up to 5% of older adults and subclinical hypothyroidism is present in up to 15% of people aged 65 and older.

Thyroid disorder diagnosis can be tricky since it often shows up as a disorder of another system in the body, such as the gut, heart, or nervous system. Older persons with thyroid disorders require special attention to gradual and careful treatment, as well as lifelong follow-up.

What can I do for my loved one?

Foremost, ensure that you are regularly checking in with your loved one on how they're feeling and what physical or mental changes they may be experiencing from day to day.

Also ensure that any new or worsening symptoms are reported to your loved one's primary care provider, even if they are subtle or your loved one doesn't seem worried about them.

Encourage your loved one to attend all healthcare-related appointments and engage in any testing, scheduled follow-ups, or additional recommendations, no matter who the appointment is with - their primary care provider, dentist, cardiologist, home health nurse, physical therapist, VA liaison... Whomever.

If your loved one has already been diagnosed with thyroid disease, ensure that they are referred to an endocrinologist and faithfully follow their treatment regimen.

Symptoms of thyroid disease

Symptoms of thyroid disease in those aged 60 and over are often nonspecific and present as weakness, falls, and confusion or other cognitive impairments. Other indicators might include:

Thyroid abnormalities may also be detected with routine testing (i.e., annual wellness visits and blood tests).

Another important indicator of thyroid disease in an older adult is a history of thyroid disease in a close family member (sibling or child).

Treatment

Specific treatment depends on the thyroid disorder, though typically consists of oral medications and monitoring, and sometimes involves iodine therapy or surgery.

The approach to the management of thyroid disorders in the elderly differs from that for younger individuals in that it considers frailty, coexisting medical illness and medications, clearance rate of medications, and drug-drug interactions along with target organ sensitivity to the treatment.

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RESOURCES

American Thyroid Association

British Thyroid Foundation

Dedon, J. (2022). Thyroid disease in aging. Missouri Medicine, 119(4), 351.353. Link

Harvard Health Publishing

Papaleontiou, M., & Heymart, M.R. (2012). Approach to treatment of thyroid disorders in the elderly. Medical Clinics of North America, 96(2), 297-310. DOI

Thiruvengadam, S., & Luthra, P. (2021). Thyroid disorders in elderly: A comprehensive review. Disease-a-Month, 67(11). DOI

No content in this app, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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