Can vitamin D deficiency be linked to cognitive decline?

 

 

CHICAGO - About 42% of the general U.S. population has low vitamin D levels, and as many as 60% of the elderly have low vitamin d levels, according to a new study by JAMA Neurology released Monday. Those low vitamin D levels may be associated with a decline in cognitive function.

 

“Those low in vitamin D declined more in short term memory, known as episodic memory, as well as more complex cognitive tasks, known as executive function," stated Joshua Miller, lead researcher associated with the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University."They were declining about two and a half times faster than those who had adequate vitamin D.”

 

Researchers studied 382 older adults with an average age of 75. Vitamin D levels and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Cognitive function was also followed in 318 of the participants for an average of 5 years.

 

Researchers also found that vitamin D levels were lower for African American and Hispanics, compared with their white counterparts. 

 

Among the group, 61% of participants were women, 41% white, about 30% were African American and 25% were Hispanic. At study enrollment, about 18% had dementia, 33% had mild cognitive impairment and half were cognitively normal.