Vitamin D, often celebrated for keeping our bones strong, comes mainly from sunlight kissing our skin and from the supplements some people take.
Beyond its bone benefits, this sunshine vitamin is also thought to play a part in how our brains work, particularly in how we think and remember.
Researchers at Rutgers University decided to take a closer look at vitamin D’s role in the brain, especially focusing on older adults. They were curious about how this vitamin could affect memory and the speed of our reactions to things around us.
They focused on a group of women between the ages of 50 and 70, who were a bit heavier than what’s considered healthy.
To get their answers, the researchers set up an experiment with three different groups. One group took the usual daily vitamin D dose of 600 international units (IU).
Another group took a higher dose of 2,000 IU each day, while the last group went even higher to 4,000 IU daily. All of this went on for a whole year, and the women were encouraged to lose some weight during this time.
What they found was pretty interesting. The women who took 2,000 IU of vitamin D every day started remembering things better and learning easier. But, there was a catch. While their memories got sharper, their reactions to things happening around them started to slow down.
This slowdown became more noticeable in the group taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D. Why does this matter? Well, if you’re slower to react, you’re more likely to fall, which can be particularly dangerous as you get older.
Past studies had already hinted that taking more than 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily could make falls more likely. This new research suggested that taking 4,000 IU might not be a great idea for older adults, as it could mess with their ability to walk or keep their balance.
This brings up a lot of questions, like how exactly reaction time ties into the chances of falling and hurting oneself. It also makes scientists wonder if vitamin D affects men and women differently, and what the right amount of vitamin D is for brain health.
There’s a world of research out there exploring how to keep our brains sharp as we age. Some studies say eating like you live by the Mediterranean Sea or taking Vitamin B can help protect your brain. Others suggest that eating lots of fiber or antioxidants could lower your risk of dementia.
The Rutgers University study, led by Sue Shapses and her team and published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, opens up a new chapter in our understanding of vitamin D and the brain.
It tells us that while vitamin D can help our memory, we need to find the right amount to take. Too much, and we might end up moving slower, raising our risk of falls. It’s all about balance, in our diets, our bodies, and our vitamin D levels.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about plant nutrients that could help reduce high blood pressure, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
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