Does vitamin D help reduce the risk of dementia? - NL-079
Severe vitamin D deficiency is associated with many chronic health conditions. Poor vitamin D levels lead to poor bone health, weakened immunity and increased risk of heart disease, respiratory problems and autoimmune disorders. Did you know vitamin D also plays a crucial role in maintaining your mental and emotional well-being? Research shows that poor vitamin D levels may increase the risk of developing mental health problems, and increase the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Can it also cause memory loss and cognitive impairment? And does taking vitamin D supplements cut down the risk of dementia?
Age, genetics, smoking, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases are the main risk factors associated with dementia. In addition to these, vitamin D deficiency has also been proposed as a modifiable risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia that affects the elderly.
While previous clinical trials have shown mixed results, emerging data suggests that vitamin D supplementation may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that regular use of vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia (memory loss and other cognitive losses due to reduced flow of blood to the brain). Another study published in the Alzheimer’s & Dementia journal, found that the risk of dementia reduced by 40 percent in older people who took vitamin D supplements. In addition, there are better outcomes if one takes vitamin D supplements before the onset of cognitive decline. Another study suggested that vitamin D supplementation reduced in the risk of dementia in patients on hemodialysis.
How does vitamin D help? Vitamin D is an anti-oxidant, and it reduces inflammation. It also regulates the production of various neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin. It prevents neurotoxicity as it protects nerve cells from injury and inflammation, and also helps clear amyloid beta protein. Accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein in the brain a significant factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Chronic vitamin D deficiency produces symptoms such as bone pain, fatigue, muscle aches, muscle weakness and back pain. Since vitamin D also affects mental health and cognitive functions, long-term deficiency can also result in mental symptoms such as brain fog, memory loss, poor focus, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, depression and mood swings. With more and more research exposing the role of vitamin D in mental and cognitive health, it is important to make sure your levels fall in a healthy, well-defined range. Your body makes vitamin D when you expose your skin to sun, but certain factors, such as age, limited exposure to sun, use of statins, and liver and kidney disorders increase your risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Take high quality vitamin D3 supplements to help you correct the deficit and reduce your risk of many health conditions, including dementia and cognitive loss.
References:
- Chen et al. The associations of serum vitamin D status and vitamin D supplements use with all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia: a UK Biobank based prospective cohort study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2024.
- Ghahremani et al. Vitamin D supplementation and incident dementia: Effects of sex, APOE, and baseline cognitive status. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 2023.
- Chai et al. Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: an updated meta-analysis. BMC Neurology
- Lin et al. The Protective Effect of Vitamin D on Dementia Risk in Hemodialysis Patients. Life. 2023.