Jennifer Mammen, MD, M.Phil., Ph.D

Jennifer Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, is a member the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology/Metabolism, Dr. Mammen practices general endocrinology with a focus on thyroid, adrenal and pituitary disorders. She is actively engaged in research on hormonal function and aging. 

Research

An appreciation for the complexity of human responses to aging has allowed us to recognize that there are multiple pathophysiology processes behind seemingly similar clinical changes in serum hormone levels among older adults.  Using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we have recently reported the novel observation that most healthy older adults have relatively stable thyroid function, despite higher average levels among older compared to younger groups. We have demonstrated the presence of diverse aging patterns in the thyroid axis amongst older adults. In particular, while some people clearly have developing hypothyroidism from primary thyroid failure, others have changes in their pituitary that give rise to a similar TSH elevation without lowering thyroid hormone levels.  These different patterns imply different treatment approaches are appropriate in individuals. Ongoing research is directed towards being able to distinguish these differences without the long-term follow up data that is available in the BLSA, in order to develop clinically relevant tests and improve care. We have identified practice patterns and risk factors for thyroid hormone over-use and misuse that constitute a significant public health problem in older adults, and particularly women, which drives the need for targeted therapy and personalized medicine to come to endocrinology.