Association of thyroid hormones with brain morphology, function and aging - longitudinal analyses

KeyNAKO-1439

Project leadProf. Dr. Alexander Teumer

Approval date18.08.2026

Published date28.08.2026

SummaryThyroid hormones have systemic effects on the human body and play a key role in the development and function of virtually all tissues over the lifespan including the brain. Thyroid function is narrowly regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. Variation in thyroid function is affecting the brain and results in neurodevelopmental disturbances in newborns and children may trigger dementia and neurodegeneration in the elderly population. Here, I will use the large population-based NAKO dataset to validate and refine these associations in adults as well as to discover new ones. The second aim of this research is to assess whether there are effects on thyroid function attributed to variation of the organs that are directly involved in the thyroid hormone production, particularly the hypothalamus. In this application, we will assess longitudinal changes form NAKO baseline to follow-up of these parameters. Our results will provide insights into the relationship between thyroid and brain function, and will create a basis for establishing new hypothesis on this topic.

Keywords Brain-MRI Brain-age brain thyroid thyroid-hormones

InstitutionsUniversitätsmedizin Greifswald

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