As per World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.
For the first time, a new study has reported that taking a vitamin D supplement daily may help stave off dementia in older adults. Previous studies have linked lower levels of vitamin D to a higher risk of developing dementia.
Researchers at the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute in Canada and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom explored the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and dementia in more than 12,000 participants.
They found a connection between taking vitamin D supplements and living longer with a lower risk of dementia. There were 40% fewer dementia diagnoses in those who frequently took vitamin D supplements. Interestingly, the effects were considerably higher in women than men.
Vitamin D is often referred to as “the sunshine vitamin” because the sun is a natural source of vitamin D. Just a few minutes in the sun can significantly boost your vitamin D levels.
Despite the findings, scientists agree that the exact role of vitamin D in cognitive function is not yet fully understood and more research will be required to fully understand this link.
Co-author Dr. Byron Creese, at the University of Exeter, said, “The link with vitamin D in this study suggests that taking vitamin D supplements may be beneficial in preventing or delaying dementia, but we now need clinical trials to confirm whether this is really the case.
