A comprehensive study conducted by researchers from the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute in Canada and the University of Exeter in the UK has revealed a potential link between vitamin D supplementation and a reduced risk of dementia.
This large-scale study, involving over 12,000 participants, sheds light on the potential benefits of vitamin D in preserving cognitive health.
Exploring the Vitamin D-Dementia Relationship
The study examined the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and dementia risk in a cohort of 12,388 participants from the US National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center.
These individuals, with an average age of 71 and initially free from dementia, were enrolled in the study. Of this group, 37% (4,637 participants) reported taking vitamin D supplements.
Published in the journal “Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring,” the study uncovered significant findings.
Participants who took vitamin D supplements appeared to have a longer dementia-free period, and there was a remarkable 40% reduction in dementia diagnoses among this group.
Over the ten-year study period, 2,696 participants progressed to dementia. Of these, 2,017 (75%) had no prior exposure to vitamin D, while 679 (25%) had baseline vitamin D supplementation.
Key Insights and Targeted Supplementation
Professor Zahinoor Ismail, who led the research, emphasized that vitamin D has known effects on the brain that could be relevant to dementia prevention.
The study results provide valuable insights into specific groups that could benefit from targeted vitamin D supplementation. Notably, the research suggests that early supplementation may be particularly advantageous, ideally before cognitive decline begins.
Interestingly, the study found that the benefits of vitamin D were more pronounced in females compared to males.
Similarly, individuals with normal cognitive function experienced more significant effects than those showing signs of mild cognitive impairment, a condition linked to a higher dementia risk.
The impact of vitamin D was also more prominent in participants who did not carry the APOEe4 gene, a genetic factor associated with a heightened risk of Alzheimer’s dementia.
The researchers hypothesize that APOEe4 carriers might absorb vitamin D more efficiently from their intestines, potentially reducing the effects of vitamin D supplementation. However, further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Previous research has already established a connection between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of dementia.
Vitamin D plays a role in clearing amyloid in the brain, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, vitamin D may help protect the brain against the buildup of tau, another protein implicated in dementia development.
The Road Ahead
Co-author Dr. Byron Creese at the University of Exeter emphasized the importance of dementia prevention and delay, given the growing number of affected individuals. While the link between vitamin D and dementia is promising, clinical trials are needed to validate these findings definitively.
The ongoing VitaMIND study at the University of Exeter aims to address this by randomly assigning participants to take either vitamin D or a placebo and assessing changes in memory and cognitive function over time.
The VitaMIND study is part of the PROTECT initiative, an online study open to individuals aged 40 and over, aiming to identify factors that contribute to maintaining cognitive sharpness in later life.
In Canada, CAN-PROTECT is a linked online study focusing on aging, also open to participants aged 40 and over, with an additional emphasis on dementia caregiving.
These studies offer hope for a future where vitamin D supplementation may play a role in preserving cognitive health and reducing the burden of dementia.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about low choline intake linked to higher dementia risk, and how eating nuts can affect your cognitive ability.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
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