Stressful exposure from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami drives long-term changes in thyroid hormone physiology
Stressful events are associated with long-term adverse health impacts, but the causal mechanisms linking these exposures to subsequent disease remain poorly understood. One plausible mechanism is persistent changes to hormonal signaling that regulate metabolic homeostasis. Here, we examine the long-term impacts of stress associated with exposure to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on levels of free…
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami caused long-term changes in thyroid hormone physiology, according to a study published 20 years after the disaster. The research, led by the Study of Tsunami Aftermath and Recovery, examined the effects of stress from the tsunami on levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3), a key indicator of biologically active thyroid hormones, in a population-based sample in Aceh, Indonesia.
The study took advantage of the unique opportunity to track individuals before and after the tsunami, regardless of migration, to reduce selection bias. By comparing communities within the same sub-district, the researchers identified that greater tsunami exposure led to reduced FT3 levels 20 years later. The findings also revealed that tsunami exposure altered the relationship between FT3, body composition, and cortisol, leading to increased cardiometabolic risk.
The study suggests that persistent alterations in thyroid hormone physiology could be a potential pathway linking severe stressful exposures to long-term cardiometabolic disease risk.
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