Type 2 Deiodinase Thr92Ala Polymorphism Is Not Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Type 2 Deiodinase (DIO2) converts thyroxine (T4) into the active hormone triiodothyronine (T3). Thr92Ala DIO2 polymorphism has been associated with reduced conversion of T4 into T3 and central nervous system hypothyroidism. However, how Thr92Ala DIO2 polymorphism affects cognitive function is still unclear. Objective: To assess the association between Thr92Ala DIO2 polymorphism and cognitive performance in older adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University-based tertiary hospital in Brazil. Patients: > 65-year-old with no limiting clinical disease. Interventions: All participants answered a standard questionnaire before undergoing thyroid function laboratory evaluation and genotyping of the Thr92Ala DIO2 polymorphism. Main Outcomes: Cognitive impairment measured by the Word List Memory task from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropsychological Battery (CERAD-NB) and the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB). Results: A hundred individuals were included. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were similar among DIO2 genotypes (all p > 0.05). No differences were found in the Word List Memory, recall, or recognition tests of the CERAD-NB assuming a recessive model for the Ala/Ala vs. Thr/Ala-Thr/Thr genotypes. Results of Clock Drawing Test, Animal Fluency Test, Mini-Mental State Exam, and Figure Memory Test of the BCSB were similar between groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Thr92Ala DIO2 polymorphism is not associated with relevant cognitive impairment in older adults.