Subclinical hypothyroidism is a common condition among European older men and women. A European clinical trial is testing the health-related benefits of thyroid hormone replacement on elderly people with this condition.
Thyroid hormone has multiple pleiotropic effects on physiological systems, including the vascular tree, heart, skeletal muscle and brain. Hormone replacement has the potential to give multi-system benefits to older people with mild thyroid hormone deficiency. Small studies have reported reduced atherosclerosis and improved cardiac function with thyroxine replacement, but no large clinical trials have been performed.
Further details: Thyroid hormone treatment for the elderly