New health study: Vitamin D May Have Key Role In Helping Brain Work Well In Later Life

[Mike 03]

Study quotation:

"Association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older European men J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009; doi 10.1136/jnnp.2008.165720]

Vitamin D may have a key role in helping the brain to keep working well in later life, suggests research published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Previous research indicates that inadequate vitamin D intake may be linked to poorer mental agility in the ageing brain, but the results have been inconsistent.

The researchers base their current findings on just over 3000 European men between the ages of 40 and 79, who were all part of the international European Male Ageing Study, drawn from eight different cities across Europe.

Their mental agility was assessed using a range of tests, designed to measure memory and speed of information processing as well as mood and physical activity levels, both of which affect mental agility.

Blood samples were then taken to measure circulating levels of vitamin D, which is obtained through dietary sources and by exposure to sunlight.

High circulating vitamin D levels were associated with high scores on the memory and information processing tests, but after adjusting for mood and physical activity, the association remained for only one of the two information processing tests.

Low vitamin D levels were associated with poor scores, with levels of 35 nmol/litre or under marking the threshold of poorer performance."

ON EDIT:

My interpretation, courtesy of the authors of the musical HAIR:

"Let the sun shine in..."

[Donnachaidh]

1. is there a link please? n/t

[Ilsa]

2. Maybe not for that Journal, if the OP copied directly from the journal.

I get email notification of articles in a number of journals, but I can't read anything except the abstract in most of them unless I purchase a pass or a sub.

I'll look for you.

[Ilsa]

3. Okay, I found something:

http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/jnnp.2008.165720v1?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Manchester&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=date&resourcetype=HWCIT

But it is just the abstract.

[enough]

4. I've been wondering for a while how you balance the desire to get vitamin D

from sunlight with the desire to avoid skin cancer. I really like the idea of getting a vitamin from sunlight, makes me feel closer to my plant friends.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Ten minutes in the sun gives you plenty of Vitamin D

but it's not enough to give you cancer.

[Lisa0825]

6. I got tested 6 weeks ago. I was down to FIVE nmol/L!

I'd been feeling lousy, but not sure it was all related. I was hoping it was, but my main issue has not improved after 5 weeks on high dose supplements.