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Vitamin D associated with a lower risk of dementiaA large scale study has found that suboptimal vitamin D status may be associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment.
The study, conducted on almost 2,000 adults over the age of 65, is the first of its scale to identify this relationship, and prompted researchers to suggest vitamin D supplementation as a possible means of reducing the risk of dementia.
Researchers recruited 1,766 participants (708 men and 1,058 women). Their level of cognitive function was assessed using the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT), a common neurocognitive screening tool. Levels of blood serum (liquid portion of blood, with clotting factors removed) 25(OH)D (a marker of vitamin D status) were measured. 12% of the participants were found to be cognitively impaired. Findings revealed that people with normal cognitive function had higher levels of serum 25(OH)D than those who were cognitively impaired. Those with the lowest serum 25(OH)D concentrations were four times more likely to be cognitively impaired than those with the highest concentrations. The effect was independent of the principal factors that influence cognitive performance such as age and education. The researchers concluded that: "Further research is warranted to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation is a cost effective and safe way of reducing the incidence of cognitive impairment in the growing elderly population around the world". Click here to view the study abstract. The study adds to the growing evidence that vitamin D has a far wider role than calcium utilisation; suboptimal vitamin D status has been linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis, hypertension, cancer and autoimmune disease. The best source of the vitamin is natural sunlight. |