ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Don’t avoid the sun — Vitamin D deficiency can lead to dementia

The link between the two had been previously suggested but this is the first solid evidence.

Fermin KoopbyFermin Koop
June 15, 2022
in Diseases, Health, News, Science
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Genetic research has found a direct link between dementia, one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people, and a lack of vitamin D. The researchers believe their findings could significantly help to prevent dementia while raising awareness of the need to abolish vitamin D deficiency.

Image credit: Pixabay.

Currently, about 50 million people around the world suffer from dementia and this number is expected to increase almost three times by 2050. It’s an incurable neurogenerative disease of unknown cause. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, with a median age of diagnosis of 80 years old.

Researchers have long been exploring relevant preventive interventions to delay the development of dementia. Several relevant risk factors have been identified (including smoking, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, overweight, and vitamin D deficiency), but there was relativelly little evidence regarding them.

It’s been suggested vitamin D could play a role in the progression of dementia due to its role in neurotrophy, neurotransmission, and neuroplasticity. However, the conclusions of studies have been contradictory. Organisms obtain vitamin D either by exposure to sunlight or through food intake, from oily fish, red meat, liver, and egg yolks.

Researchers at the University of South Australia investigated the link between vitamin D, neuroimaging features, and the risk of dementia and stroke. They went through data from almost 295,000 participants from the UK Biobank, measuring variation in genes through nonlinear mendelian randomization (MR).

“Vitamin D is a hormone precursor that is increasingly recognized 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,” Elina Hyppönen, one of the study authors, said in a statement.

The findings

The study confirmed that low levels of vitamin D are associated with lower brain volumes and a higher risk of dementia and stroke. The analysis also suggests a causal effect between vitamin D deficiency and dementia, and that in some populations up to 17% of the dementia cases could be prevented by getting vitamin D levels back to normal (with the caveat that the study has been carried out on participants in Britain).

“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,” Hyppönen said. “In some contexts, where vitamin D deficiency is relatively common, our findings have important implications for dementia risks.”

The researchers also said the findings are very significant considering the high prevalence of dementia around the world and the expected trends. For anyone not getting enough vitamin D from the sun, modifications to the diet might not always be enough, Hyppönen said, suggesting the use of supplementation when needed.

RelatedPosts

Difficulties hearing speech over noise? That may be an early sign of dementia, new study says
Was Alzheimer’s almost nonexistent in Greek and Roman times? Why this devastating disease may be a modern plague
Researchers test Alzheimer’s vaccine in mice
Living near a crowded street seems to increase dementia risk

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Tags: dementia

ShareTweetShare
Fermin Koop

Fermin Koop

Fermin Koop is a reporter from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He holds an MSc from Reading University (UK) on Environment and Development and is specialized in environment and climate change news.

Related Posts

Mind & Brain

Routine, repetitive jobs may put you at higher risk of dementia

byMihai Andrei
1 year ago
Health

Could a simple eye test detect dementia 12 years earlier?

byMihai Andrei
1 year ago
Health

Was Alzheimer’s almost nonexistent in Greek and Roman times? Why this devastating disease may be a modern plague

byTibi Puiu
1 year ago
Health

Needed more reasons to eat healthier? Here’s one: ultra-processed foods are linked to dementia

byFermin Koop
3 years ago

Recent news

Climbing gyms are as polluted as busy city streets — and shoes are to blame

May 7, 2025

Cicadacore: Scientists Turn Summer’s Loudest Insects into Musical Cyborgs

May 7, 2025

Tesla’s Sales in Europe Are Plummeting Because of Elon Musk’s Borderline Fascist Politics

May 7, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.