Does hypothyroidism make you forgetful?

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


Is memory loss from hypothyroidism reversible?

Is memory loss from hypothyroidism reversible? For the most part, yes. Treating hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism with medications to adjust thyroid levels can help you think more clearly. People who are treated with supplemental thyroid therapy show no decline in cognitive functioning.

What does hypothyroidism 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 does hypothyroidism affect thinking?

Slowing of thought and speech, decreased attentiveness, and apathy often occur in overt hypothyroidism, and the diagnosis may be confused with depression. Rarely, severely hypothyroid patients present with agitation and frank psychosis (“myxedema madness”) (5).

How do you get rid of brain fog in hypothyroidism?

Getting more rest and more exercise were the most commonly reported lifestyle factors to improve symptoms (51.7% and 10.4%, respectively). Several dietary factors were reported as well but less frequently. A total of 28.3% of participants reported that adjustment of thyroid hormone helped their symptoms.


Thyroid Memory Loss and Forgetfulness - Keep your mind sharp!



What is the number one symptom of hypothyroidism?

Thyroid gland

Problems tend to develop slowly, often over several years. At first, you may barely notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain.

Can hypothyroidism cause 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.

What happens if you ignore hypothyroidism?

Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to serious complications, including heart disease and nerve damage. In rare cases, it can be fatal. Most people with hypothyroidism have to take thyroid hormone replacement long term. You will need ongoing thyroid level checks to ensure you are on the right dose.


Can hypothyroidism change your personality?

Yes, thyroid disease can affect mood. Common thyroid disease symptoms that affect mood include anxiety or depression. In general, the more severe the thyroid disease, the more severe the mood changes.

What mental illness is hypothyroidism mistaken for?

Hypothyroidism can often be misdiagnosed as psychiatric illness. The hypothyroid patient may present with depression, an organic mental disorder, apathy and/or frank psychosis (usually with paranoid symptoms).

Does levothyroxine help with brain fog?

As for thyroid hormone medications, 14% said an adjustment of their thyroid medication helped alleviate some of their brain fog, while another 9% said liothyronine helped. Of note, more patients said levothyroxine worsened their brain fog.


How do I know if my hypothyroidism is getting worse?

Let's take a look at the most common signs and symptoms that you are not getting sufficient treatment for your thyroid disease.
  1. You have unexpected weight changes. ...
  2. It's hard to lose or gain weight. ...
  3. You have diarrhea or are constipated. ...
  4. You have joint and muscle aches/pains. ...
  5. You are anxious and/or depressed. ...
  6. You're exhausted.


What are the mental symptoms of hypothyroidism?

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. The predominant affective disorder experienced is depression.

Can levothyroxine affect memory?

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.


What vitamin deficiency is memory loss?

Vitamin B12 deficiency is linked to impaired cognition and memory along with a sensation of tingling and numbness, an outcome of poor myelination. Elevated methylmalonic acid and serum homocysteine levels are markers of Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Can hypothyroidism go back to normal?

Can hypothyroidism go away on its own? In some mild cases, you may not have symptoms of hypothyroidism or the symptoms may fade over time. In other cases, the symptoms of hypothyroidism will go away shortly after you start treatment.

Does hypothyroidism make you look older?

If your thyroid gland is under active, this usually causes your skin to become dry. Fine lines and wrinkles appear earlier and are more noticeable. It is well known that an under active thyroid gland will age you more rapidly.


Does hypothyroidism get worse as you get older?

One of the subclinical thyroid function disturbances is subclinical hypothyroidism, which is characterized by normal free thyroxine (FT4) and increased thyrotropin (TSH) levels. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism increases with aging and ranges from 3 to 16 % in individuals aged 60 years and older [1].

What lifestyle causes hypothyroidism?

Thyroid diseases usually arise as the result of poor diet, lifestyle stress and other lifestyle related factors. Few changes that can help in managing the thyroid disorder are: Less Sugar = Less worries.

What organs are affected by hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism can affect the heart and circulatory system in several ways. Lower production of thyroid hormone slows your heart rate. Hypothyroidism also makes the arteries less elastic, and blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body.


Why am I extremely tired on levothyroxine?

Extreme tiredness is a commonly reported side effect of Levothyroxine. Many people begin treatment but feel no better after starting medication, which may be because they are experiencing this effect. You feel more tired while taking Levothyroxine because the hormones in your body have been effectively reduced.

Is hypothyroidism considered a disability?

Qualifying for a disability requires that the impairment be severe and long-lasting (at least 12 months). While uncontrolled hypothyroidism can be debilitating, controlled hypothyroidism is a treatable condition that typically does not affect someone's ability to work or live.

Can your thyroid mess with your memory?

Thyroid hormone regulates metabolism in every organ of the body, including the brain. When thyroid hormone is low, it can affect your memory span and ability to concentrate. For many people, brain fog is a fleeting symptom.


Does hypothyroidism affect life expectancy?

Does Hypothyroidism Affect Life Expectancy? With proper treatment, a person with hypothyroidism usually has a normal life expectancy, with little or no decrease in quality of life. 1 Hypothyroidism generally carries a greater life expectancy than hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

Does hypothyroidism change life expectancy?

Some studies link hypothyroidism to increased longevity

This study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that people with low thyroid function live up to 3.5 years longer overall.