A new set of scientific findings has highlighted the importance of addressing a common vitamin deficiency to protect the brain from deterioration and the onset of dementia. The results of the new study, led by an Australian university, emphasize the necessity of maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D to safeguard the brain from cognitive decline. This research adds to a growing body of studies that underscore the link between dementia and vitamin D deficiency.
Researchers found that low levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced brain volume and an increased risk of dementia and stroke. Genetic analyses supported the causal effects of vitamin D deficiency on dementia. For some individuals, it is estimated that up to 17% of dementia cases could be prevented by raising vitamin D levels to the normal range found in the general population.
Cerebrospinal fluid relies on the pulse of arteries to filter the brain. When this system falters, excess proteins accumulate between neurons, disrupting communication between cells. Vitamin D is believed to protect brain cells from such damage due to its neuroprotective properties. It is also widely regarded as a neurosteroid involved in regulating genes essential for brain function.
The genetic analysis was conducted on data from 294,514 participants from the UK Biobank. Utilizing nonlinear random distribution, researchers were able to test the causality of dementia and stroke.
