Vitamin D key to lower dementia risk

 

Since we will all experience the sunset years, one time or another, it is good to learn something from this study conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School in U.K. while we are on that journey.

Not that we will all suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, which is the common cause of dementia, an impairment of thinking and memory that interferes with a person’s ability to do things which he or she previously was able to do, and is particularly common in older people, but there is nothing like being informed and forewarned.

This study involved 1,658 adults aged 65 years, who at the start were able to walk and were free from dementia and other health problems. Their existence were followed and monitored for about six years.

By that time, it was found out that 171 participants had developed dementia and 102 had Alzheimer’s disease.

Those who were moderately deficient in vitamin D had a 53 per cent increased risk of developing dementia of any kind. Those who were severely deficient saw their risk increase to 125 per cent over those with adequate levels of vitamin D.

Similar numbers were noted for Alzheimer’s disease: those who were moderately deficient were 69 per cent more likely to develop this type of dementia, and the severely deficient were 122 per cent more likely to get Alzheimer’s.

“We expected to find an association between low vitamin D levels and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but the results were surprising – we actually found that the association was twice as strong as we anticipated,” said lead researcher, Dr. David Llewellyn.

Dementia is a major health issue. Around 44 million people worldwide have dementia and the number is expected to triple by 2050. About one billion people in the world have low vitamin D levels.

Salmon, tuna, beef liver and egg yolks contain small amounts of vitamin D, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements.

“Clinical trials are now needed to establish whether eating foods such as oily fish or taking vitamin D supplements can delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia,” said Dr. Llewellyn.

 

REDUCING RISK OF ALZHEIMER

This is good news for those who may think they are now nearing the stage of life where the serious threat of a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, which causes thinking and memory to be gravely impaired is just lurking.

Large review of studies has shown that people over 60 who consume moderate amounts of alcohol have a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Dementia is a syndrome consisting of a number of symptoms that include loss of memory, judgment and reasoning, and changes in mood, behavior and communication abilities.

The analysis, which appeared in the July issue of The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, reviewed 15 studies that together followed more than 28,000 subjects for at least two years. All the studies controlled for age, sex, smoking and other factors. The studies variously defined light to moderate drinking as 1 to 28 drinks per week.

Compared with abstainers, male drinkers reduced their risk for dementia by 45 percent, and women by 27 percent.

The researchers acknowledge that studying the effects of alcohol on dementia is complicated by issues like beverage type, standards of quantity and individual behavior that may interact with alcohol to affect mental acuity. But there is ample evidence from other studies that moderate alcohol consumption can increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good cholesterol”, improve blood flow to the brain and decrease blood coagulation. All three factors may reduce the risk for dementia.

The authors, however, warn against drawing premature conclusions. It is still best to consult your doctor to clearly define what “moderate” drinking is applicable to an individual.