Cerebral Function in Hypothyroid Patients

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Abstract
Mental performance was studied in 6 hypothyrotic patients [human] before, 7 wk after and 1 yr after initiation of thyroxine substitution therapy. Performance, as measured by critical flicker-fusion (CFF) and vernier visual acuity (KVAT), improved significantly after 7 wk of substitution therapy and improved, though not significantly, after 1 yr. Performance as measured by 2 reaction time tasks was not significantly improved, either after 7 wk or after 1 yr. Results were interpreted in terms of the complexity of the measures used, more complex measures being more affected by the disease through summing of several unit impairments. Subjects (3) were studied with repeated measurements of CFF. A subject was studied with T4 [thyroxine] substitution, another with T3 [triiodothyronine] substitution and 1 subject with T4 substitution and T4 substitution plus T4 propylthiouracil blocking of T4 to T3 metabolism. With T4 substitution there was a distinct increase in performance, with a delay of 2-3 wk after a dose change. With T3 substitution in a dose corresponding to T4 to T3 metabolism, there was no change in performance.