A new large-scale study suggests that taking vitamin D supplements may help in preventing dementia. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Calgary and the University of Exeter, involved over 12,000 participants who were initially dementia-free. The findings, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, indicate that taking vitamin D supplements was associated with a longer period without dementia and a 40% reduction in dementia diagnoses among the supplement users. The study also revealed that the effects of vitamin D were more pronounced in females, individuals with normal cognition, and those who did not carry the APOEe4 gene, which is linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's dementia. Previous research has shown that low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of dementia. Vitamin D plays a role in clearing amyloid and tau proteins, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease. While further clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefits of vitamin D supplementation in preventing or delaying dementia, ongoing studies such as VitaMIND are investigating this relationship. The VitaMIND study is part of the PROTECT program, which aims to understand factors that maintain cognitive sharpness in later life.
