The Role of Treatment Choice in Confounding Associations Between Hashimoto and Alzheimer’s Disease
2024

The Role of Treatment Choice in Hashimoto's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Gorbunova Galina, Yashkin Arseniy, Nikitin Stanislav Kolpakov, Ukraintseva Svetlana, Yashin Anatoliy, Akushevich Igor

Primary Institution: Duke University

Hypothesis

Hypothyroidism treatment modalities may cause variability in the available evidence of a hypothyroidism-Alzheimer's disease association.

Conclusion

The association between Hashimoto's disease and Alzheimer's disease changes when treatment modalities are considered.

Supporting Evidence

  • Alzheimer's disease is most prevalent at advanced ages.
  • Hyperthyroidism has been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline.
  • Non-treatment-enabled models found no significant association between Hashimoto's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Takeaway

This study looked at how different treatments for hypothyroidism might affect the link between Hashimoto's disease and Alzheimer's disease. It found that considering treatment options changes the results.

Methodology

Used Medicare administrative claims data from 2006-2022 to assess the association between Hashimoto's disease and Alzheimer's disease with treatment modalities included.

Limitations

The prediction power of treatment-aware models was substantially weaker due to stratification.

Participant Demographics

Findings were consistent across sex/gender and race/ethnicity-specific groups.

Statistical Information

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.2596

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