Vitamin D is an important vitamin whose deficiency causes dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, most commonly in the elderly. This is the claim of scientists who conducted a large AAN, published in the Neurology Journal.
The lead researcher of the University of Exeter Medical School, David Llewellyn, in a news release says that the huge connection between Vitamin D and dementia or Alzheimer’s disease surprised them.
Vitamin D and Alzheimer’s disease
During that survey, it took into account data from several years back where 1,658 Americans aged 65 and older participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study in the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute.
Researchers found that adults with a moderate deficit of Vitamin D have a 53% higher risk of developing dementia and the risk of those with severe deficiency of Vitamin D climbed 125%.
Similarly for Alzheimer’s disease as the most common form of dementia, the results show that moderate deficiency of Vitamin D has a risk of up to 69%, while those with a serious deficit even 122%.
Clinical trials are not specifically and they cannot certainly verify the food, especially fish, or Vitamin D supplements, which can delay or prevent dementia appearance or Alzheimer’s disease.
I will not skip vegan and vegetarian. Of course, there are other sources of Vitamin D that correspond to this way of nutrition. You can download a PDF document with the Vegan/Vegetarian sources of Vitamin D by clicking on this link.
However, although the low-level of Vitamin D is not the direct cause of dementia, be careful in the early stages of this disorder.
More than five million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease. According to the latest data from the Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association, one of three patients dying from some form of dementia. Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach with the Alzheimer’s Association, emphasized that the hippocampus is a brain area that is full of receptors of Vitamin D. She believes that the link starts right here.
Various studies show that little or no exposure to the sun, not using the supplements or foods such as salmon, sardines, egg yolks, etc., causes a lack of Vitamin D.
A study conducted in Denmark showed a link between Alzheimer’s disease prevalence and lack of Vitamin D.
Another study done in Australia and France demonstrated the close connection between Vitamin D and the improvement of memory.
Research has shown that the use of Vitamin D prevents asthma, diabetes, and Mayo Clinic.
Whatever the expectations of people and their beliefs, scientifically proven that Vitamin D has a deep mechanism of action. It acts as a steroid hormone, which influences the gene (unlike other vitamins). This vitamin directly affects 1000 different genes. Therefore, we recommend frequent and moderate exposure to sunlight and the use of Vitamin D supplements during the winter months.
This latest research and its results obtained are quite exciting because of its size and structure. It is the first study done on a large population and monitoring the status of participants over several years. A randomized control study with more accurate results is the next step.