Does Graves disease affect the brain?

If not treated properly, Graves' disease can affect your brain, your heart, and your muscles. In more severe forms, it can cause painful muscle aches, sociopathic behavior, and even heart damage.

Can Graves disease mess with your mind?

Introduction Cognitive impairment and reduced well-being are common manifestations of Graves' disease (GD). These symptoms are not only prevalent during the active phase of the disease but also often prevail for a long time after hyperthyroidism is considered cured.

Does Graves disease cause neurological problems?

Encephalopathy — Cognitive impairment is common in hyperthyroidism and may present as one or more different syndromes. In a cross-sectional study of older hospitalized patients, dementia and confusion were found in 33 percent and 18 percent of patients with hyperthyroidism [1].

How does hyperthyroidism affect brain?

Patients with hyperthyroidism frequently have neuropsychiatric complaints such as lack of concentration, poor memory, depression, anxiety, nervousness, and irritability, suggesting brain dysfunction. However, the underlying process of these symptoms remains unclear.

Can Graves disease lead to dementia?

Graves' disease and toxic nodular goiter increase the odds that these patients will develop dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, a relationship perhaps driven by prolonged low TSH.

Understanding Hyperthyroidism and Graves Disease

What other problems can Graves disease cause?

If left untreated, Graves' disease can lead to heart rhythm disorders, changes in the structure and function of the heart muscles, and the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the body (heart failure).

Which organ is mainly affected by Graves disease?

With Graves' disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland, causing it to make more thyroid hormones than your body needs. As a result, many of your body's functions speed up. The thyroid is a small gland in your neck that makes thyroid hormones.

Does Graves disease affect your memory?

Cognitive Symptoms in Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormone than your body needs. Some people with hyperthyroidism, such as Graves' disease, commonly experience poor concentration, slower reaction times, decreased spatial organization, and memory lapses.

Can hyperthyroidism cause permanent brain damage?

Due to altered hormone levels, patients with endocrine diseases often present with other systemic and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Irreversible brain damage can occur due to delays within the diagnosis and treatment of these patients.

Does hyperthyroidism affect your thinking?

Thyroid hormone has important effects on brain/cognitive functioning. Severe thyroid disease, either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, is associated with cognitive deficits such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating and “brain fog”.

Is having Graves Disease considered a disability?

Patients with Graves' disease may be unable to work because of their disease and its related complications. If so, they are likely asking themselves, “is Graves' disease considered a disability?” The answer is yes. When severe enough, Graves' disease is considered a disability.

Is Graves disease a terminal illness?

Graves' disease is rarely life-threatening. However, without treatment, it can lead to heart problems and weak and brittle bones. Graves' disease is known as an autoimmune disorder.

What can you not do with Graves disease?

What to Limit When You Have Graves' Disease. Caffeine: Foods that contain caffeine—coffee, soda, tea, and chocolate—can aggravate Graves' disease symptoms, such as anxiety, nervousness, rapid heart rate, and weight loss.

Can Graves disease change your personality?

However, some events could have occurred between the onset and diagnosis. Finally, thyrotoxicosis itself can cause psychological disturbances and behavioral changes such as anxiety and depression, which may have an effect on life events.

Is Graves disease life threatening or disabling?

Although it is rarely life-threatening, Graves' disease can sometimes result in complications if left unmanaged. Untreated Graves' disease may lead to: Problems during pregnancy – such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, or preterm birth. Heart problems – such as heart rhythm disorders or heart failure.

Can thyroid problems cause dementia like symptoms?

Thyroid dysfunction is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer disease (AD).

Can hyperthyroidism cause mental confusion?

Hyperthyroidism is frequently associated with: irritability, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, impairment in concentrating and memory, these symptoms can be episodic or may develop into mania, depression and delirium.

Can thyroid mess with your brain?

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 viruses cause Graves disease?

However, direct evidence of the presence of viruses or their components in the organ are available for retroviruses (HFV) and mumps in subacute thyroiditis, for retroviruses (HTLV-1, HFV, HIV and SV40) in Graves's disease and for HTLV-1, enterovirus, rubella, mumps virus, HSV, EBV and parvovirus in Hashimoto's ...

How does Graves disease make you feel?

But many people with hyperthyroidism have an autoimmune disorder called Graves disease, which also makes their eyes bulge out. During an exam, your doctor may notice that your thyroid is larger than normal, and that you have high blood pressure, tremors, or a fast heart rate. These can all be signs of hypothyroidism.

What is the long term prognosis for Graves disease?

Although prognosis is excellent after 4 years without relapse [³⁰], late recurrences do occur and only one in three patients experiences permanent remission [²¹]. Remission rate after 10 years is in the order of 30% to 40%, and hypothyroidism has developed in 10% to 15% 15 years after ATD [⁵⁹].

Can stress flare up Graves disease?

Thyroid conditions such as Grave's disease (hyperthyroid) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (hypothyroid) are worsened by chronic stress so learning ways to lessen stress is your key to better health.

Which is worse Graves disease or Hashimoto's?

While both produce many clinical symptoms and side effects, Graves' disease is more dangerous clinically and requires surgery in a larger percentage of patients with the disorder. Medical management of Graves' and Hashimoto's is paramount, and in some cases, all that is needed.

What is the root cause of Graves disease?

Causes. Graves' disease is considered to be an autoimmune disorder, but other factors may contribute to its development, including genetic, environmental, and/or other factors. Autoimmune disorders occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.

What foods should someone with Graves disease avoid?