Vitamin D supports cognitive ability in seniors

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS), a division of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), has funded a new study concerning the role of Vitamin D in preserving cognitive function in the elderly.

Cognitive function is measured by the level at which the brain is able to manage and use available information for activities of daily life. Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of age-related dementia, affects about 47 percent of adults aged 85 years or older in the United States. Identifying nutritional factors that lower cognitive dysfunction and help preserve independent living provides economic and public health benefits, according to authors.

The study, which was supported by ARS, the National Institutes of Health, and others, was led by epidemiologist Katherine Tucker of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston, Mass.

The study involved more than 1,000 participants receiving home care. The researchers evaluated associations between measured vitamin D blood concentrations and neuropsychological tests. Elders requiring home care have a higher risk of not getting enough vitamin D because of limited sunlight exposure and other factors.

The participants, ages 65 to 99 years, were grouped by their vitamin D status, which was categorized as deficient, insufficient, or sufficient. Only 35 percent had sufficient vitamin D blood levels. They had better cognitive performance on the tests than those in the deficient and insufficient categories, particularly on measures of "executive performance," such as cognitive flexibility, perceptual complexity, and reasoning. The associations persisted after taking into consideration other variables that could also affect cognitive performance.

Dr. Cinque's comments: There is no doubt that Vitamin D helps preserve mental functioning, but another vitamin that also does so, and is of equal importance, is Vitamin B12. I am sure a colossal number of seniors are deficient in one or both of these vitamins, and I am in favor of doing Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 blood testing on all seniors. Yes, it would cost a lot of money, however, it would save a vastly greater amount. It is a tragedy that the lack of two vitamins which are perfectly safe, very inexpensive, and widely available is causing millions of seniors to suffer needlessly and die prematurely. Are you getting enough Vitamin D and Vitamin B12?...........................
http://www.1to1vitamins.com/news/2010/artl8415.html
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