New research finds levels of vitamin D are associated with our risk of age-related cognitive decline. They’re just not sure why.
Higher Brain Vitamin D Levels Associated with Lower Dementia Risk
Researchers from Tufts University found that higher levels of vitamin D were associated with up to 33 percent lower odds of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
Vitamin D receptors are widespread in brain tissue, and the vitamin has shown protective effects that include clearance of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association (AA), one in three U.S. seniors will die with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia and this condition kills more people than breast and prostate cancer. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened these rates. In 2020, COVID-19 contributed to a 17 percent increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths….