Vitamin D Reduced Dementia Risk by 40 Percent

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to various health conditions and can also increase the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Experts estimate that over 50 million people worldwide currently have dementia, and with the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, the figure is expected to triple by 2050. However, a study has shown that exposure to vitamin D can potentially lower the risk of dementia.

The study included 12,388 individuals, and the results revealed that vitamin D exposure over a decade could reduce the risk of dementia by 40%. Notably, women in the study had a higher benefit than men. The researchers measured the baseline exposure to vitamin D and compared the dementia-free survival between the group with exposure to the vitamin and those without. The study shows a positive effect of vitamin D with potential for dementia prevention, particularly in the high-risk strata.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, also known as calciferol. It naturally occurs in certain types of food and is produced endogenously when skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Vitamin D deficiency remains a widespread problem, and its worldwide prevalence is estimated to be up to 1 billion people.

Vitamin D does not only lower the risk of dementia; it also has a neuroprotective effect, reduces the percentage of people with prediabetes who later develop diabetes, and can help prevent or treat specific types of cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, uterine fibroids, lupus, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis.

The study shows that there is a synergistic effect with other nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin K2, and calcium. An imbalance among these nutrients may raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. Thus, measuring the vitamin D level is the only way to determine the required amounts of sun exposure or supplementation.

It is critical to maintain optimal vitamin D levels since low levels potentially increase the risk of several health conditions, some of which might contribute to premature death. The data demonstrating the efficacy of vitamin D in improving health continue to grow. Retired nurse educator John Campbell discusses in his 18-minute video that optimizing vitamin D levels is a crucial part of maintaining optimal health.

Vitamin D helps clear amyloid beta aggregates in the brain, a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. It also demonstrates a neuroprotective effect against amyloid beta-induced tau hyperphosphorylation, another structural abnormality that people with Alzheimer’s disease may have. Studies show that up to 17% of dementia cases in some populations may be preventable if vitamin D levels increase to 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L) or higher.

Aside from preventing and treating dementia, studies have shown that vitamin D reduces the risk of cancer, particularly metastatic cancer, and deaths related to cancer. It may also prevent or treat gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, lupus, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Vitamin D supplementation and sensible sun exposure work together, and combining them with magnesium, vitamin K2 MK7, and calcium benefits the body. Always measure vitamin D levels through the D*Action Project by GrassrootsHealth, a cost-effective way to determine how much vitamin D3 to take. This project also helps fund valuable research.