Lower intelligence quotient and larger brain volume in the precuneus among patients with graves' disease

Abstract

Objectives: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are related to hyperthyroidism. Whether global cognitive function is impaired is unclear. In this study, we intended to investigate whether patients with Graves' disease (GD) are characterized by a lower intelligence quotient (IQ) and gray matter volume loss. Methods: We enrolled 36 patients with GD and 36 healthy controls. Intelligence quotient and other cognitive functions, such as memory and attention, were assessed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study was used to measure the gray matter volume for those study participants. Results: Significantly lower IQ scores (p < 0.001) and poor memory function (p < 0.05) were found among the patients with GD. We also found that patients with GD had a nonsignificant larger gray matter volume in the precuneus compared with that in healthy controls. Conclusion: The deficits on global and complex cognitive testing among patients with GD should be noted. We speculate that the larger gray matter volume in the precuneus might be due to compensation.

Keywords

• continuous performance test
• executive function
• hyperthyroidism
• magnetic resonance imaging study