Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Dementia
- April 26, 2018 • 15,156 views
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Edition: English
Story at-a-glance
- Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a substantially increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer disease
- People who were severely deficient in vitamin D had a 122 percent increased risk of developing dementia, whereas those who were moderately deficient were at a 53 percent greater risk
- For Alzheimer’s disease specifically, being severely vitamin D deficient was linked to a 122 percent increased risk compared to a 69 percent increase for those who were moderately deficient
- Vitamin D has been reported to increase the expression of LRP-1, a protein that helps clear amyloid beta, a toxic protein linked to Alzheimer's, from the brain
By Dr. Mercola
Vitamin D, once primarily known for its role in bone health, has traversed into the mainstream as one of the most important vitamins for overall health and disease prevention. From your heart to your gut and, as accumulating research shows, your brain, making sure you’re getting enough vitamin D is one of the simplest ways to make a difference in your health. Worldwide, an estimated 47 million people are living with dementia, and this is expected to increase to 75 million by 2030.1
Dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form, refers to memory loss and other changes in cognitive abilities that make performing everyday activities difficult. Research suggests, however, that you can lower your risk of this debilitating disease by optimizing your vitamin D levels.
For Alzheimer’s disease specifically, being severely vitamin D deficient was linked to a 122 percent increased risk compared to a 69 percent increase for those who were moderately deficient.3
In 2017, Austrian researchers conducted a meta-analysis of five studies and further revealed that people with a serious vitamin D deficiency have a higher risk of dementia than those with sufficient vitamin D. “The results of this systematic review show that low vitamin D levels contribute to the development of dementia,” the researchers noted.4
Another study, this one published in JAMA Neurology, also linked vitamin D status with rates of cognitive decline, finding, “Low VitD [vitamin D] status had an accelerated decline in cognitive function domains in ethnically diverse older adults, including African American and Hispanic individuals who exhibited a high prevalence of VitD insufficiency or deficiency.”5 In addition:
It’s also been suggested that while low vitamin D is linked to poorer cognition, vitamin D supplementation does not always show a clear benefit. This could be because there is a “therapeutic age window” during which vitamin D helps prevent disease,10 and if your levels are too low during that time, you could miss your window to stave off illness.
Researchers are now looking into uncovering the optimal timing and duration during which optimizing vitamin D clearly helps protect against dementia, but a sensible solution is to monitor your levels and keep your levels optimized throughout your life.
The vitamin D receptor complex can go deep inside the DNA, where it recognizes the tell-tale sequence of code that instructs the vitamin D receptor complex to either turn the gene on (making it active) or off (making it inactive). Vitamin D is known to regulate many genes, and vitamin D receptors are broadly expressed in the brain.11 In addition, researchers explained in the Journal of Gerontology:12
Once your tolerance has been built up, aim for 15 to 30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure two to four times per week, around mid-day, to maximize vitamin D production and other benefits of sun exposure. It’s nearly impossible to give any firm recommendations for how long you need to stay in the sun to optimize vitamin D production, however, as it varies greatly depending on a number of factors, such as:
While sunlight is the ideal way to optimize your vitamin D, winter
and working indoors prevent more than 90 percent of those reading this
article from achieving ideal levels. It’s estimated, for instance, that
nearly 42 percent of U.S. adults are vitamin D deficient, and this is
even higher in certain groups, including blacks (82 percent) and
Hispanics (69 percent).15
People over the age of 50 also don't produce vitamin D as easily by metabolizing sunlight, and their kidneys don't convert vitamin D into a form their body can use quite as quickly, putting the elderly at heightened risk of deficiency as well.
A high-quality tanning bed is your next best option, but if your circumstances don't allow you to access the sun or a high-quality tanning bed, then you really only have one option if you want to raise your vitamin D, and that is to take a vitamin D3 supplement. As a general guideline, research by GrassrootsHealth suggests adults need about 8,000 IUs per day to achieve a serum level of 40 ng/ml. However, to find out what dosage is best for you make sure to get tested, and take steps to optimize your levels accordingly.
The vitamin D test you're looking for is called 25(OH)D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This is the officially recognized marker of overall D status and is most strongly associated with overall health. The other vitamin D test available, called 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)D), is not very useful for determining vitamin D sufficiency.
If you do opt for a vitamin D3 supplement, you also need to boost your intake of vitamin K2 through food and/or a supplement, as well as continue to get your levels tested to be sure you’re safely within the therapeutic range. Sensible sun exposure (and delaying showering to maximize absorption) is the best way to access this amazing nutrient. While it’s difficult to maintain optimal vitamin D levels from food sources, it is found in some foods, including:
In addition, optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best flu-prevention strategies available and can also slash your cancer risk. Previous research found that a vitamin D level of 50 ng/ml was found to have a 50 percent lower risk of breast cancer.17 Further, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine reported that raising your serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to 40ng/ml can slash your risk of all invasive cancers by 67 percent.18
Vitamin D also does wonders for your heart, as it triggers the production of nitric oxide, a molecule that helps control blood flow and prevent blood clot formation within your blood vessels. Further, vitamin D significantly reduces oxidative stress in your vascular system, which can prevent the development of heart disease.19
Exercise to increase brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), stress reduction, optimizing your sleep, which is critical for cognitive function, and nutritional support are all crucial. Important nutrients include animal-based omega-3 fats, magnesium and fiber, in addition to vitamin D.
To prevent Alzheimer's, you need to focus on a diet that powers your brain and body with healthy fats, not net carbs (total carbohydrates minus fiber), i.e., a ketogenic diet. In addition, there are exciting treatment strategies in the works, including photobiomodulation, in which stimulation of the brain with near-infrared light has been found to boost cognition and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s, including more advanced stages of the disease.
Electromagnetic exposures from wireless technologies are a crucial component that need to be addressed as well, as this type of radiation activates the voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in your cells, and the greatest density of VGCCs are in your brain, the pacemaker of your heart and male testes. It is my belief that excessive microwave exposure, glyphosate, which disrupts the blood-brain barrier, and mitochondrial dysfunction are among the most significant factors contributing to Alzheimer's.
Optimizing your vitamin D level is an excellent start, but it’s best to take additional proactive steps to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. To learn more, I recommend reading "The End of Alzheimer's: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline," which details a unique protocol by Dr. Dale Bredesen, director of neurodegenerative disease research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine.
Vitamin D, once primarily known for its role in bone health, has traversed into the mainstream as one of the most important vitamins for overall health and disease prevention. From your heart to your gut and, as accumulating research shows, your brain, making sure you’re getting enough vitamin D is one of the simplest ways to make a difference in your health. Worldwide, an estimated 47 million people are living with dementia, and this is expected to increase to 75 million by 2030.1
Dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form, refers to memory loss and other changes in cognitive abilities that make performing everyday activities difficult. Research suggests, however, that you can lower your risk of this debilitating disease by optimizing your vitamin D levels.
Low Vitamin D Increases Dementia Risk
In a six-year study that followed more than 1,600 people, vitamin D deficiency was found to have a substantially increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer disease.2 In fact, people who were severely deficient in vitamin D had a 122 percent increased risk of developing dementia, whereas those who were moderately deficient were at a 53 percent greater risk.For Alzheimer’s disease specifically, being severely vitamin D deficient was linked to a 122 percent increased risk compared to a 69 percent increase for those who were moderately deficient.3
In 2017, Austrian researchers conducted a meta-analysis of five studies and further revealed that people with a serious vitamin D deficiency have a higher risk of dementia than those with sufficient vitamin D. “The results of this systematic review show that low vitamin D levels contribute to the development of dementia,” the researchers noted.4
Another study, this one published in JAMA Neurology, also linked vitamin D status with rates of cognitive decline, finding, “Low VitD [vitamin D] status had an accelerated decline in cognitive function domains in ethnically diverse older adults, including African American and Hispanic individuals who exhibited a high prevalence of VitD insufficiency or deficiency.”5 In addition:
- Higher intake of dietary vitamin D was associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease among older women6
- Among the elderly (including the “oldest-old”) in China, low vitamin D levels were associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and impairment7
- Low vitamin D levels among older women in the U.S. were associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment and decline8
It’s also been suggested that while low vitamin D is linked to poorer cognition, vitamin D supplementation does not always show a clear benefit. This could be because there is a “therapeutic age window” during which vitamin D helps prevent disease,10 and if your levels are too low during that time, you could miss your window to stave off illness.
Researchers are now looking into uncovering the optimal timing and duration during which optimizing vitamin D clearly helps protect against dementia, but a sensible solution is to monitor your levels and keep your levels optimized throughout your life.
Vitamin D Is Neuroprotective
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that influences virtually every cell in your body, including those in your brain. Vitamin D also plays a major role in neurotransmission. When you have enough vitamin D in your body, it binds to vitamin D receptors located throughout your body, thereby acting like a key that opens the proverbial door.The vitamin D receptor complex can go deep inside the DNA, where it recognizes the tell-tale sequence of code that instructs the vitamin D receptor complex to either turn the gene on (making it active) or off (making it inactive). Vitamin D is known to regulate many genes, and vitamin D receptors are broadly expressed in the brain.11 In addition, researchers explained in the Journal of Gerontology:12
“Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone necessary for maintaining good musculoskeletal health; its deficiency is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Vitamin D is primarily synthesized in the skin upon exposure to sunlight; smaller amounts are obtained through dietary intake. More recently, enzymes responsible for the synthesis of its active form have been found to be distributed throughout the human brain.
These enzymes facilitate on-site calcium homeostasis, immunomodulation, antioxidative mechanisms, and beta-amyloid clearance by vitamin D, thereby conferring a protective effect on the central nervous system. This growing body of evidence suggests that vitamin D has a neuroprotective function that is potentially important for the prevention of cognitive decline.”Further, vitamin D has been reported to increase the expression of LRP-1, a protein that helps clear amyloid beta, a toxic protein linked to Alzheimer's, from the brain.13 “Amyloid clearance majorly contributes to progression of Alzheimer’s disease,” researchers wrote in the Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, and by increasing LRP-1 expression may “simultaneously increase amyloid clearance.”14
What’s the Best Way to Optimize Your Vitamin D Level?
Ideally, get regular exposure to the sun in short increments, gradually building up your time safely. As part of my healthy sunbathing tips, I recommend building up your tolerance by starting early in the spring, with as few as five minutes of exposure time, and gradually increasing the time you spend in the sun to avoid getting burned.Once your tolerance has been built up, aim for 15 to 30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure two to four times per week, around mid-day, to maximize vitamin D production and other benefits of sun exposure. It’s nearly impossible to give any firm recommendations for how long you need to stay in the sun to optimize vitamin D production, however, as it varies greatly depending on a number of factors, such as:
| Antioxidant levels and diet in general | Age |
| Skin color and/or current tan level | Use of sunscreen |
| Latitude and altitude (elevation) | Cloud cover and pollution |
| Ozone layer | Surface reflection |
| Season | Time of day |
| Weight |
People over the age of 50 also don't produce vitamin D as easily by metabolizing sunlight, and their kidneys don't convert vitamin D into a form their body can use quite as quickly, putting the elderly at heightened risk of deficiency as well.
A high-quality tanning bed is your next best option, but if your circumstances don't allow you to access the sun or a high-quality tanning bed, then you really only have one option if you want to raise your vitamin D, and that is to take a vitamin D3 supplement. As a general guideline, research by GrassrootsHealth suggests adults need about 8,000 IUs per day to achieve a serum level of 40 ng/ml. However, to find out what dosage is best for you make sure to get tested, and take steps to optimize your levels accordingly.
The vitamin D test you're looking for is called 25(OH)D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This is the officially recognized marker of overall D status and is most strongly associated with overall health. The other vitamin D test available, called 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)D), is not very useful for determining vitamin D sufficiency.
If you do opt for a vitamin D3 supplement, you also need to boost your intake of vitamin K2 through food and/or a supplement, as well as continue to get your levels tested to be sure you’re safely within the therapeutic range. Sensible sun exposure (and delaying showering to maximize absorption) is the best way to access this amazing nutrient. While it’s difficult to maintain optimal vitamin D levels from food sources, it is found in some foods, including:
| Sardines | Wild-caught Alaskan salmon | Beef liver |
| Organic pastured egg yolks | Cheese | Grass-fed butter |
| Mushrooms |
Optimizing Your Vitamin D Levels Will Protect Your Overall Health
When you take steps to optimize your vitamin D, it’s not only your brain health that will benefit. For instance, vitamin D is known to be crucial in several areas of your body, as a deficiency has been implicated in such problems as macular degeneration, lupus, bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis and chronic heart failure.16In addition, optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best flu-prevention strategies available and can also slash your cancer risk. Previous research found that a vitamin D level of 50 ng/ml was found to have a 50 percent lower risk of breast cancer.17 Further, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine reported that raising your serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) to 40ng/ml can slash your risk of all invasive cancers by 67 percent.18
Vitamin D also does wonders for your heart, as it triggers the production of nitric oxide, a molecule that helps control blood flow and prevent blood clot formation within your blood vessels. Further, vitamin D significantly reduces oxidative stress in your vascular system, which can prevent the development of heart disease.19
Beyond Vitamin D: How to Prevent, and Possibly Reverse, Alzheimer’s
It’s often said that Alzheimer’s disease is incurable and there’s no known cause. A more accurate statement would be that there are many causes, and, if you address the specific factors causing the cognitive decline, it is possible to prevent and possibly reverse this disease.Exercise to increase brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), stress reduction, optimizing your sleep, which is critical for cognitive function, and nutritional support are all crucial. Important nutrients include animal-based omega-3 fats, magnesium and fiber, in addition to vitamin D.
To prevent Alzheimer's, you need to focus on a diet that powers your brain and body with healthy fats, not net carbs (total carbohydrates minus fiber), i.e., a ketogenic diet. In addition, there are exciting treatment strategies in the works, including photobiomodulation, in which stimulation of the brain with near-infrared light has been found to boost cognition and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s, including more advanced stages of the disease.
Electromagnetic exposures from wireless technologies are a crucial component that need to be addressed as well, as this type of radiation activates the voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in your cells, and the greatest density of VGCCs are in your brain, the pacemaker of your heart and male testes. It is my belief that excessive microwave exposure, glyphosate, which disrupts the blood-brain barrier, and mitochondrial dysfunction are among the most significant factors contributing to Alzheimer's.
Optimizing your vitamin D level is an excellent start, but it’s best to take additional proactive steps to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. To learn more, I recommend reading "The End of Alzheimer's: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline," which details a unique protocol by Dr. Dale Bredesen, director of neurodegenerative disease research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine.
+ Sources and References
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