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Autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for mood disorders, a Mendelian randomization study
Jia Liu, Zhaoqing Li. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2025-03-11
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Gene-proxy for Graves' disease was associated with an increased risk of major depressive disorder (P-value = 0.02), whereas gene-proxy for autoimmune thyroiditis was linked to a greater risk of bipolar disorder (P-value = 0.043). The levels of pleiotropy and heterogeneity among genetic variants suggest bias is unlikely, leave-one-out test confirmed a robust correlation. No indication that mood disorders influence the risk of autoimmune thyroid disease, and no evidence of a causal relationship between autoimmune thyroid disease and dementia. Graves' disease is associated with heightened risk of major depressive disorder, and autoimmune thyroiditis is correlated with increased risk of bipolar disorder.
Key findings
- Gene-proxy for Graves' disease was associated with an increased risk of major depressive disorder (P-value = 0.02), whereas gene-proxy for autoimmune thyroiditis was linked to a greater risk of bipolar disorder (P-value = 0.043).
- The levels of pleiotropy and heterogeneity among genetic variants suggest bias is unlikely, leave-one-out test confirmed a robust correlation.
- No indication that mood disorders influence the risk of autoimmune thyroid disease, and no evidence of a causal relationship between autoimmune thyroid disease and dementia.
- Graves' disease is associated with heightened risk of major depressive disorder, and autoimmune thyroiditis is correlated with increased risk of bipolar disorder.
Why it matters
This Mendelian randomization study found no evidence of a causal relationship between autoimmune thyroid disease and dementia. It did find links between Graves' disease and major depressive disorder and between autoimmune thyroiditis and bipolar disorder, but these are not dementia outcomes.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Affective Disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Affective Disorders: journal h-index 306 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Zhaoqing Li: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Jilin University: institution h-index 649 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40081583) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.033
- PubMed: 40081583
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Affective Disorders →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Liu, J., & Li, Z. (2025). Autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for mood disorders, a Mendelian randomization study. Journal of Affective Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.033
Vancouver
Liu J, Li Z. Autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for mood disorders, a Mendelian randomization study. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.033. PMID: 40081583.
BibTeX
@article{liu2025-40081583,
author = {Liu, Jia and Li, Zhaoqing},
title = {{Autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for mood disorders, a Mendelian randomization study}},
journal = {Journal of Affective Disorders},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.033},
pmid = {40081583},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.033}
}
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