It
turns
out
that
vitamin
D
is
important
for
more
than
just
strong,
healthy
bones.

A
new
study
out
of
Emory
University
found
that
taking
vitamin
D
supplements
may
benefit
brain
health,
particularly
in
older
adults
with
mild
cognitive
decline.

The
research
was
published
in
the
journal
“Sleep
Medicine.”
The
small
study
looked
at
54
adults
with
early
signs
of
dementia
—
specifically
sleep
issues
and
mild
cognitive
impairment
—
and
found
that
those
who
took
daily
high
doses
of
vitamin
D
(at
least
5,000
IU)
had
better
cognitive
function
when
compared
to
adults
who
didn’t
take
the
supplement.

“In
older
adults
experiencing
both
sleep
disturbance
and
mild
cognitive
impairment,
this
may
represent
a
critical
window
for
intervention,
when
cognitive
changes
are
emerging,
but
opportunities
to
support
brain
health
may
remain,”
study
author
Victoria
Pak
said
in
a

press
release.

Researchers
had
participants
take
the
Montreal
Cognitive
Assessment,
which
is
a
dementia
risk
screening
tool
that
measures
thinking
and
memory.
Participants
who
took
5,000
IU
of
vitamin
D
scored
roughly
13%
higher
on
this
assessment
than
those
who
did
not
take
vitamin
D
at
all.

There
are
limitations
to
this
research,
namely
that
the
study
is
very
small,
so
it’s
hard
to
say
if
these
results
would
hold
up
in
a
larger
population.
But
the
data
does
add
to
existing
research
that
suggests
vitamin
D
supplementation
is
important
for
brain
health.
Previous
studies
have
found
that
low
vitamin
D
levels

may
put
folks
at
higher
risk
of
Alzheimer’s
disease
and

dementia.
This
is
even
true
for
adults
in
their
30s
and
40s;

other
evidence
suggests
that
high
vitamin
D
throughout
midlife
resulted
in
fewer
dementia
risk
factors
as
people
aged.

The
research
also
only
examined
participants
with
two
main
symptoms
of
dementia
―
sleep
loss
and
mild
cognitive
impairment
(which
is
defined
as
a
slight
decline
in
thinking
and
memory
skills
that
appear
to
be
worse
than
normal
aging).
Other
red
flags,
like
mood
changes,
were
not
analyzed
as
part
of
this
study.

Vitamin
D
supplementation
won’t
eliminate
your
risk
of
dementia
entirely,
but
this
study
suggests
that
it’s
one
way
to
help
slow
down
cognitive
decline
as
you
grow
older.

“Identifying
accessible
and
modifiable
factors,
such
as
vitamin
D
supplement
intake,
during
the
earlier
stages
of
cognitive
decline
may
become
increasingly
important,
particularly
as
rates
of
Alzheimer’s
disease
continue
to
rise,”
Pak
continued
in
the
press
release.

Researchers
found
that
the
favorable
cognitive
effects
occurred
when
study
participants
took
either
kind
of
vitamin
D
—
vitamin
D3
or
vitamin
D2
—
but
there
weren’t
memory
or
thinking
improvements
when
someone
took
less
than
5,000
IU
of
vitamin
D.

We
typically
get
vitamin
D
from
sunlight,
supplements
and
certain
foods,

such
as
mushrooms,
fatty
fish,
milk,
egg
yolks
and
more.

But
roughly
40%
of
American
adults
are
vitamin
D-deficient
or
insufficient.
Beyond
dementia
risk,
low
levels
of
vitamin
D
are
also

a
risk
factor
for
cardiovascular
disease
―
and
cardiovascular
disease
puts
folks
at
heightened
risk
for
dementia.

“For
vitamin
D
specifically,
adding
in
healthy
protein
sources,
particularly
fatty
fish
such
as
tuna,
salmon,
sardines
and
mackerel,
can
be
beneficial,”

Dr.
Thomas
M.
Holland,
physician-scientist
and
assistant
professor
at
the
Rush
Institute
for
Healthy
Aging
at
Rush
University
Medical
Center
in
Chicago,

previously
told
HuffPost.

Supplements
including
vitamin
D
can
interact
with
certain
medications
and
aren’t
suitable
for
everyone,
which
makes
it
important
to
talk
to
your
doctor
before
starting
any
new
regimen.

Researchers
noted
in
the
study’s
conclusion
that
the
findings
are
helpful
in
addressing
memory
loss
and
cognitive
decline
in
the
early
stages,
especially
as
more
and
more
Americans
are
expected
to
receive
dementia
diagnoses
in
the
coming
years.
Cases
of
dementia

are
expected
to
double
by
2060
due
to
the
aging
population
in
the
country,
along
with
health
habits
(such
as
diet
and
exercise)
and
genetics.

Beyond
potential
vitamin
D
supplementation,
there
are
more
lifestyle
habits
that
can
help
lower
(but
not
eliminate)
dementia
risk.

These
include
controlling
high
blood
pressure,
managing
or
preventing
diabetes,
exercising,
staying
socially
connected
with
loved
ones,
eating
a
diet
that’s
high
in
whole
grains,
fruits,
vegetables
and
lean
meats,
challenging
your
brain
with
new
activities
like
a
new
language
or
hobby,
getting
enough
sleep
each
night
and
treating
hearing
loss.

Whether
or
not
you
develop
dementia
is
not
fully
in
your
control,
but
practicing
these
healthy
habits
can
help
reduce
the
chance
of
developing
it
or
slow
the
development
of
cognitive
impairment.