1Assistant Professor, Deptt. of Physiology, IGIMS, Patna
2Professor & H.O.D, Deptt. of Physiology, IGIMS, Patna
3Ex. Professor, Deptt. of Medicine, MAMC, Delhi
4Assistant Professor, Deptt. of Biochemistry, IGIMS, Patna
5Professor, Deptt. of Biochemistry, MAMC, Delhi
Comparison of cognitive functions in young female patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and euthyroid subjects.
Sixty diagnosed cases, all female, with mean age of 40 ± 7 years of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) were compared with 60 age and sex matched euthyroid controls. Neurocognitive tests such as Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Letter Cancellation test, Trail making Test A & B, Digit span forward and reverse test were performed in both the groups and were compared. Results were analyzed by calculating Mean±SD, using Student's t test.
The characteristics of SCH patients and control cases were similar with regard to age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels (TSH) were significantly higher in SCH patients than the controls (P < 0.001). Statistically significant increase in the duration of Letter Cancellation test, Trail making Test ‘A’, and statistically significant decrease in Digit span forward and reverse test, in all SCH patients when compared to Euthyroid subjects. No statistically significant difference was found in the score of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), although the score was lower in SCH patient.
In addition to the decline in memory in SCH patient documented by earlier studies our work also points towards decline in visual scanning, response speed and sustained attention.
Cognitive function, Subclinical Hypothyroidism
