Is Thyroid a genetic disease?

You have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder and are wondering what causes problems with the thyroid gland. Is it age or Is thyroid genetic? Although the condition is more common among the elderly, there have been instances where new-borns have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem. . Read on to understand the genetics of thyroid disorders and the genes that may affect the functioning of the thyroid gland.

The genes of a person do play an important role in thyroid ailments. For example, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a type of genetic thyroid disease. This is an autoimmune condition in which the thyroid gland becomes underactive. Being a genetic condition, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is often passed down through generations.

If you have a family history of thyroid diseases, then you are at a higher risk of developing a thyroid problem. However, not all thyroid diseases are genetic. Some people with no family history of thyroid are also diagnosed with thyroid-related issues. Suffering from certain medical issues, such as Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anaemia and lupus, can also lead to thyroid disorders.

Genetics of Thyroid disease

Studies have shown that thyroid diseases have a high genetic impact. Therefore, any variation in the genes that play a part in the metabolism of thyroid hormones can lead to thyroid disease.

The genes of a person may also determine levels of following two important hormones that cause thyroid diseases —

1. Thyroxine

This hormone produced by the thyroid gland aids in regulating the functioning and well-being of many organs in your body. It supports healthy metabolism, brain development, heart and digestive functions, bone health, muscle control, etc. Since this hormone affects important organs in the body, any changes in thyroxine levels can affect your well-being.

2. TSH

Thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH, is released by the pituitary gland. It tells the thyroid gland to produce and release right amounts of thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine hormones. Therefore, TSH plays an important role in signalling thyroid gland on how much thyroid hormone to produce.

While high concentrations of TSH can lead to hypothyroidism, low concentrations of this hormone can cause hyperthyroidism.

Which genes may affect thyroid function?

Many genes may cause mutations and lead to thyroid diseases. However, no single gene can be considered as the root cause of any thyroid problem.

Some prominent genes that can affect the functioning of thyroid gland and causes associated conditions are:

1. Iodothyronine deiodinase

2. Iodothyronine deiodinase 2

3. Phosphodiesterase

How are Genetic Thyroid Disorders tested?

Genetic thyroid disorders are checked with one or more of the following tests:

1. Sanger dideoxy sequencing

2. Afirma gene expression classifier

3. Fluorescence in situ hybridization