Suzanimal
08-09-2014, 06:16 AM
Wow, make sure you're getting enough D.
Lack of vitamin D raises risk of dementia in later life: Older people with lower levels are twice as likely to develop condition
Older people with low vitamin D levels were more than twice as likely to develop any kind of dementia, warn researchers.
An international team, led by Dr David Llewellyn at the University of Exeter Medical School, found people who were severely deficient were up to 125 per cent more at risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Those with moderately low blood levels of vitamin D were up to two-thirds more at risk.
It is the first large study to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and dementia where the diagnosis was made by an expert team using neuroimaging and other tests.
Previous research suggests people with low vitamin D levels are more likely to go on to experience cognitive problems, but this study confirms a link to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The team studied 1,658 Americans aged 65 and over who were able to walk unaided and were free from dementia, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The participants were then followed for six years to see who went on to develop Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Those who were moderately deficient in vitamin D had a 53 per cent increased risk of developing dementia of any kind, and the risk increased to 125 per cent in severely deficient people.
Similar results were recorded for Alzheimer’s disease, with the moderately deficient group 69 per cent more likely to develop this type of dementia, jumping to a 122 per cent increased risk for those severely deficient.
It found a link with higher dementia rates when vitamin D levels fell to the lowest level, as well as a threshold for good health.
The findings show when blood levels fall below 50 nanomol (nmol) of vitamin per liter of serum, the risk starts to increase.
Vitamin D levels above 50 nmol/L are most strongly associated with good brain health, says the study published in the journal Neurology.
Dr Llewellyn said: “We expected to find an association between low Vitamin D levels and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but the results were surprising – we actually found that the association was twice as strong as we anticipated.
‘Clinical trials are now needed to establish whether eating foods such as oily fish or taking vitamin D supplements can delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
‘We need to be cautious and our latest results do not demonstrate that low vitamin D levels cause dementia.
‘That said, our findings are very encouraging, and even if a small number of people could benefit, this would have enormous public health implications given the devastating and costly nature of dementia.’
The body makes most of its vitamin D from sunlight on the skin, but older people can be less efficient at converting UV exposure.
Although the vitamin is found in oily fish, and is routinely added to milk, diet accounts for very little of the nutrient that actually makes it into the bloodstream.
Prof Gordon Wilcock, Emeritus Professor of Geratology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, said ‘This study confirms the suggestion from previous research that there is a link between low vitamin D levels and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
....
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2718479/Lack-vitamin-D-raises-risk-dementia-later-life-Older-people-lower-levels-twice-likely-develop-condition.html#ixzz39td3Tjj9
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Lack of vitamin D raises risk of dementia in later life: Older people with lower levels are twice as likely to develop condition
Older people with low vitamin D levels were more than twice as likely to develop any kind of dementia, warn researchers.
An international team, led by Dr David Llewellyn at the University of Exeter Medical School, found people who were severely deficient were up to 125 per cent more at risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Those with moderately low blood levels of vitamin D were up to two-thirds more at risk.
It is the first large study to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and dementia where the diagnosis was made by an expert team using neuroimaging and other tests.
Previous research suggests people with low vitamin D levels are more likely to go on to experience cognitive problems, but this study confirms a link to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The team studied 1,658 Americans aged 65 and over who were able to walk unaided and were free from dementia, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The participants were then followed for six years to see who went on to develop Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Those who were moderately deficient in vitamin D had a 53 per cent increased risk of developing dementia of any kind, and the risk increased to 125 per cent in severely deficient people.
Similar results were recorded for Alzheimer’s disease, with the moderately deficient group 69 per cent more likely to develop this type of dementia, jumping to a 122 per cent increased risk for those severely deficient.
It found a link with higher dementia rates when vitamin D levels fell to the lowest level, as well as a threshold for good health.
The findings show when blood levels fall below 50 nanomol (nmol) of vitamin per liter of serum, the risk starts to increase.
Vitamin D levels above 50 nmol/L are most strongly associated with good brain health, says the study published in the journal Neurology.
Dr Llewellyn said: “We expected to find an association between low Vitamin D levels and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but the results were surprising – we actually found that the association was twice as strong as we anticipated.
‘Clinical trials are now needed to establish whether eating foods such as oily fish or taking vitamin D supplements can delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
‘We need to be cautious and our latest results do not demonstrate that low vitamin D levels cause dementia.
‘That said, our findings are very encouraging, and even if a small number of people could benefit, this would have enormous public health implications given the devastating and costly nature of dementia.’
The body makes most of its vitamin D from sunlight on the skin, but older people can be less efficient at converting UV exposure.
Although the vitamin is found in oily fish, and is routinely added to milk, diet accounts for very little of the nutrient that actually makes it into the bloodstream.
Prof Gordon Wilcock, Emeritus Professor of Geratology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, said ‘This study confirms the suggestion from previous research that there is a link between low vitamin D levels and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
....
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2718479/Lack-vitamin-D-raises-risk-dementia-later-life-Older-people-lower-levels-twice-likely-develop-condition.html#ixzz39td3Tjj9
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook