Low levels of vitamin A in the brain are linked to higher dementia risk
Vitamin D has been a key component of one’s health for a long time. Vitamin D is essential for bone healthTrustedSource, and past research has shown that vitamin D plays an important part in the immune system functionTrustedSource.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to cardiovascular diseaseTrustedSource and respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Researchers from the University of South Australia have added to this list by claiming that they have evidence linking vitamin deficiency with an increased risk of stroke and dementia.
The American Journal of Clinical NutritionTrusted Source published the study.
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What is dementia?
A group of diseasesTrustedSource that can affect cognitive abilities, called “dementia”, is the term used to describe a condition known as dementia. People with dementia have difficulty thinking, remembering, and communicating normally.
Globally, more than 55 million people are living with dementia. According to researchers, that number could rise to 78 millions by 2030.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It accounts for between 60% and 70% of all dementia cases.
There are also other types of dementia:
Vascular dementia
Lewy body dementia
Frontotemporal dementiaTrusted Source
Parkinson’s disease dementia
Huntington’s diseaseTrusted source
Past researchTrusted Source has shown that stroke victims are at higher risk for developing dementia.
Vitamin D: A New light
For this study, researchers analyzed the genetic data of nearly 295,000 participants from the UK Biobank biomedical databases. To determine if a person is at risk of stroke or dementia, scientists measured the genetic variations in participants to discover how low vitamin D levels affected their neuroimaging.
Research has shown that a lower level of vitamin D is associated with lower brain volumeTrustedSource and a higher risk of stroke and dementia. Their genetic analysis also supports the causal effect of vitamin D deficiency on dementia.
Hypponen answered a question about how the research could help prevent strokes and dementia in the future.
She said, “This is likely not only to help dementia risk, but also for overall well-being.” “I believe strategies for food fortification containing vitamin D should be seriously considered. In countries where it has been done before, it has been possible for the concentrations to drop at the population level.
Vitamin D and dementia
The umbrella term dementia refers to a range of symptoms that can impact daily life, such as memory loss or difficulties with cognition.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.
Marilyn Tan, a clinical associate professor in medicine at Stanford University’s Endocrinology, Gerontology, and Metabolism Department in California, is Dr.
She stated that although more research is required to confirm the beneficial effects of vitamin D, vitamin D supplementation can be safely used and may offer other health benefits.
Tan explained to Healthline that the important thing to take away from this study was to remind people about regular routine health care, regular checkups and getting their labs checked. Supplementing vitamin D can help you get your levels back up, especially for bone health. And, it may also reduce your risk of developing dementia. Potentially. It’s hard to say, as we don’t know if there was a trial with vitamin D supplementation that showed an increase in dementia risk.
These activities are unlikely to cause any harm. Vitamin D is a good option. That’s why I believe there’s so much demand. She said that although the intervention might not make a significant difference in your outcome, it is unlikely to harm.”
