June 14, 2022
Dementia is one of the leading causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide, affecting thinking and behavior as we age. But what if you could stop this degenerative disease in its path?
A global study from the University of South Australia could make this a reality, as new genetic research shows a direct link between dementia and vitamin D deficiency.
Investigating the association between vitamin D, neuroimaging characteristics, and the risk of dementia and stroke, the study found:
- Low vitamin D levels were associated with lower brain volumes and an increased risk of dementia and stroke
- genetic tests supported a causal effect of vitamin D deficiency and dementia.
- in some populations, up to 17 percent of dementia cases could be prevented by increasing everyone to normal vitamin D levels (50 nmol / L).
Dementia is a chronic or progressive syndrome that causes impaired cognitive function. Some 487,500 Australians live with dementia and it is the second leading cause of death in the country. Globally, more than 55 million people have dementia with 10 million new cases diagnosed each year.
With the support of the National Health and Medical Research Council, the genetic study analyzed data from 294,514 participants at the UK Biobank, examining the impact of low vitamin D levels (25 nmol / L) and the risk of dementia. stroke. Mendelian nonlinear randomization (MR), a method of using measured variation in genes to examine the causal effect of modifiable exposure to disease, was used to test the underlying causality of neuroimaging results. dementia and stroke.
Professor Elina Hyppönen, a senior researcher and director of UniSA’s Australian Precision Health Center, says the findings are important for preventing dementia and appreciating the need to abolish vitamin D deficiency.
“Vitamin D is a precursor to the hormone that is increasingly recognized for its widespread effects, including on brain health, but so far it has been very difficult to examine what would happen if we could prevent vitamin D deficiency,” says the Professor Hyppönen.
“Our study is the first to examine the effect of very low vitamin D levels on the risks of dementia and stroke, using strong genetic analysis among a large population.
“In some contexts, where vitamin D deficiency is relatively common, our findings have important implications for the risk of dementia. In fact, in this population of the UK we observed that up to 17% of dementia cases could be to avoid increasing vitamin D levels to stay within a normal range. “
The findings are incredibly significant given the high prevalence of dementia worldwide.
“Dementia is a progressive and debilitating disease that can devastate people and families alike,” says Professor Hyppönen.
“If we manage to change that reality by making sure none of us have a severe vitamin D deficiency, it would also have more benefits and we could change the health and well-being of thousands.”
“Most of us are probably fine, but for anyone who, for whatever reason, doesn’t get enough vitamin D from the sun, dietary changes may not be enough and supplementation may be necessary.”
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Contact for the interview: Prof. Elina Hyppönen E: Elina.Hypponen@unisa.edu.au
Contact the media: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 417 717 504 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au