A study published in the journal Neurology Open Access showed that vitamin D deficiency in middle age is linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
During the study, scientists analyzed data from 793 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, whose average age was 39 at the time the blood samples were taken. After 16 years, the volunteers underwent positron emission tomography (PET) scans to measure the accumulation levels of both tau protein and beta-amyloid protein, the two substances associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease.
The results showed that higher vitamin D levels in middle age were associated with a lower amount of tau protein in the brain. This association was most pronounced in brain regions often affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, such as the temporal lobe and areas responsible for memory. In contrast, the study found no association between vitamin D and the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein.
The researchers emphasize that the study found only a statistical correlation and does not prove that taking vitamin D supplements protects against dementia. However, a deficiency of this vitamin in middle age may be a modifiable risk factor for early neurodegenerative changes, which warrants further research.
A study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Nutrition also showed that a deficiency in vitamin D may be associated with a significantly increased risk of head and neck cancer.
Many studies also indicate that taking vitamin D in specific doses can slow down cell aging, and a deficiency of this vitamin in the body may be associated with higher rates of depression or sometimes sudden hearing loss problems.
