Can hypothyroidism cause forgetfulness?

Hypothyroidism is common in adults and is frequently associated with cognitive issues, such as increased forgetfulness, mental slowing and “brain fog”.

How does hypothyroidism affect memory?

Researchers aren't entirely certain why these issues surface, but they do know that "hypothyroidism affects memory because thyroid hormones play a role in brain areas that are crucial for our memories and cognitive skills."5 And when production of the thyroid hormone slows down, some people can experience vague ...

What does hypothyroid brain fog feel like?

Brain fog in hypothyroid patients was associated most frequently with fatigue, forgetfulness and difficulty focusing and often persists after normalization of the thyroid hormone levels and negatively impacts patients' lives.

How do you treat brain fog in hypothyroidism?

Lifestyle modifications that improved brain fog and associated symptoms included rest (51.7%), thyroid hormone replacement dosage adjustments (28.3%), and exercise (10.4%). Liothyronine (LT3) supplementation improved brain fog symptoms more so than desiccated thyroid extract (8.3% vs 4.0%).

Can low thyroid cause mental confusion?

Psychiatric Signs and Symptoms

Many symptoms of psychological dysfunction have been described with hypothyroidism. Those symptoms most commonly related to thyroid deficiency include forgetfulness, fatigue, mental slowness, inattention, and emotional lability.

Thyroid Memory Loss and Forgetfulness - Keep your mind sharp!

Can hypothyroidism affect your thinking?

Hypothyroidism is common in adults and is frequently associated with cognitive issues, such as increased forgetfulness, mental slowing and “brain fog”.

Is hypothyroidism linked to dementia?

Conclusions: Hypothyroidism is associated with increased risk of dementia. The association is influenced by comorbidity and age. Every 6 months of elevated TSH increased the risk of dementia by 12%, suggesting that also the length of hypothyroidism influences the risk of dementia.

Can levothyroxine cause memory problems?

When assessing the effects of 3-month treatment, results revealed that the treated hypothyroid group had significant increased verbal memory retrieval. Results suggest that specific memory retrieval deficits associated with hypothyroidism can resolve after replacement therapy with levothyroxine.

Can thyroid problems mimic dementia?

More than 50 conditions can cause or mimic the symptoms of dementia, and a small percentage of dementias are reversible. Two common examples are dementia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

What does hypothyroid fatigue feel like?

Fatigue. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism. Many people with the condition report feeling so exhausted that they are unable to go about their day as usual. The fatigue occurs regardless of how much sleep a person gets or how many daytime naps they take.

Is dementia from hypothyroidism reversible?

Hypothyroidism is one of the most important causes of potentially reversible dementia. The present case demonstrates a relatively rapid remission of cognitive and noncognitive symptoms within a period of a few months.

What causes forgetfulness?

Common causes

Lyndsay shared some: Depression, anxiety and stress – “These are common causes of forgetfulness,” Lyndsay said. “Stress and mood disturbances can act as a distraction and make it difficult to focus, which can lead to memory problems.”

Can you be skinny with hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism slows down your metabolism, making it more difficult to lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy body weight. But weight loss is still possible with hypothyroidism.

Can thyroid issues cause confusion?

The top symptom reported regardless of hypothyroidism etiology was fatigue, marked by lack of energy or feeling sleepy. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism-related brain fog included forgetfulness, difficulty making decisions, and mental confusion, as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Does thyroid affect brain function?

Thyroid hormones are crucial for brain development, and influence brain function throughout life. In adults, hypothyroidism causes lethargy, hyporeflexia, and poor motor coordination (1,2), is associated with bipolar affective disorders, depression, or loss of cognitive functions (3,4).

What causes memory loss and confusion?

Stress, anxiety or depression can cause forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty concentrating and other problems that disrupt daily activities. Alcoholism. Chronic alcoholism can seriously impair mental abilities. Alcohol can also cause memory loss by interacting with medications.

What are the long term side effects of levothyroxine?

The long-term effects of thyroid medication include weight fluctuations, sensitivity to heat, joint pain, changes to your menstrual cycle, and possibly even autoimmune dysfunction.

Does levothyroxine cause brain fog?

Background: Some levothyroxine (LT4)-treated hypothyroid patients report a constellation of persistent and distressing cognitive symptoms that has been termed brain fog.

What are the long term effects of untreated hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Over time, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease.

Can hypothyroidism cause dizziness and brain fog?

Because the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism – weight gain, depression, anxiety, brain fog, sleep problems, and fatigue – are also among those that are the most likely to be chalked up by doctors to “just stress” or even depression.

What emotional problems does hypothyroidism cause?

Which exercise is best for thyroid?

What foods trigger hypothyroidism?

These foods contain goitrogens or are known irritants if consumed in large amounts: Soy-based foods: tofu, tempeh, edamame beans, soy milk, etc. Certain fruits: peaches, pears, and strawberries. Beverages: coffee, green tea, and alcohol — these beverages may irritate your thyroid gland ( 27 , 28 , 29 )

Does hypothyroidism affect life expectancy?

Results were consistent over the length of follow-up of 8 years (eTable 3 in the Supplement). Compared with their euthyroid counterparts, hypothyroid men and women lived 0.3 (95% CI, −1.7 to 1.9) and 1.1 (95% CI, −0.4 to 2.3) years longer, respectively (eTable 4 in the Supplement).

When should I worry about forgetfulness?

If you're frequently forgetting things that you always remembered before, that can be a red flag for mental deterioration or the onset of dementia. In general, if you are worried enough to ask yourself this question, you should speak to your doctor.