Reducing unnecessary thyroid hormone use in older adults
Official title: Optimizing Care for Older Adults through Thyroid Hormone Deprescribing
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10914271 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to help older adults, especially those 65 and up, who might be getting too much thyroid medication by teaching doctors the best ways to safely cut back or stop the medicine when it's not needed, all to help improve their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $766,055 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079833-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914271 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who are currently receiving thyroid hormone therapy, particularly those who may be receiving inappropriate doses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not on thyroid hormone therapy or those who have appropriate indications for its use may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on addressing the issue of overtreatment with thyroid hormone medications in older adults, particularly those aged 65 and older. It aims to evaluate a new intervention called D-THIO, which involves providing healthcare providers with evidence-based recommendations to safely reduce or discontinue thyroid hormone therapy when it is deemed unnecessary. The study will take place across multiple sites and will involve educating both providers and patients about the risks associated with inappropriate thyroid hormone use. By optimizing medication management, the research seeks to improve health outcomes for older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer medication practices and improved health outcomes for older adults by reducing the risks associated with overtreatment of thyroid hormone.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that interventions aimed at deprescribing medications can be effective, suggesting that this approach may yield positive results as well.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Papaleontiou, Maria — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Papaleontiou, Maria
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.