Study Links Low Vitamin D, Dementia Risk

Older adults who have low blood levels of vitamin D may be more likely to develop dementia, a study suggests. The analysis is based on data from a study of heart health. Researchers gave tests of mental function to more than 1,600 adults age 65 or older. They also measured vitamin D levels in the blood. They repeated the tests of mental function 6 years later. The new study analyzed the links between vitamin D levels and dementia risk in this group. People with low levels of vitamin D were 70% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as those with normal levels. Those with very low vitamin D levels were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Results were similar for the risk of dementia from all causes. People with low levels of vitamin D had a 53% higher risk of dementia.