Dementia is a phenomenon linked to brain degeneration rather than a disease. It can also be stated that it describes the signs of brain dysfunction. Memory loss and confusion are two typical symptoms of these disorders. In an effort to prevent dementia, current research aims to clarify its potential causes. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to dementia, yet much remains unknown about this association.
Because it is produced by the body when exposed to sunlight, vitamin D is frequently referred to as the “sunshine vitamin.”
Low vitamin D levels have been linked to dementia in a growing body of research; one such study found the link to be “significant.”
Researchers wanted to thoroughly investigate the links between vitamin D insufficiency and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent form of dementia, in a study that was published in the journal BMC Neurology.
For pertinent publications, they conducted a thorough search of Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and the references of “pertinent review articles.”
This meta-analysis includes four cross-sectional studies and twelve prospective cohort studies.
The researchers discovered new proof of links between vitamin D deficiency and risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s after conducting their analysis of the literature.
The study found “positive associations” between vitamin D insufficiency and dementia risk (by 32%) and AD (by 34 percent).
Additionally, when vitamin D levels were low, Alzheimer’s was more common than dementia.
According to the subgroup analysis, a severe vitamin D insufficiency was linked to a 51 percent higher risk of Alzheimer’s.
The researchers concluded that their findings “These results demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for dementia or AD [Alzheimer’s].”
The researchers came to the conclusion that there are “significant associations” between vitamin D insufficiency and both dementia and Alzheimer’s.
They said, “There are stronger associations between severe vitamin D deficiency and both dementia and AD compared to moderate vitamin D deficiency.”
Additional evidence
The study doesn’t stand out. This link has been confirmed by more recent research.
A study that was released in June linked dementia risk to vitamin D deficiency.
According to the study’s authors, raising low vitamin D levels to normal levels may help safeguard the brain against losing thinking abilities as people age.
Expert, said in a statement: “Vitamin D is a hormone precursor that is increasingly recognised for widespread effects, including on brain health, but until now it has been very difficult to examine what would happen if we were able to prevent vitamin D deficiency.”
According to the researcher, “Our study is the first to examine the effect of very low levels of vitamin D on the risks of dementia and stroke, using robust genetic analyses among a large population.”