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Vitamin D may keep your brain strong as you age

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

High levels of vitamin D may be linked to improved brain function in older and middle-aged men, according to a study by scientists at the University of Manchester.

"Interestingly, the association between increased vitamin D and faster information processing was more significant in men aged over 60 years," wrote the researchers in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, "although the biological reasons for this remain unclear."

The researchers tested more than 3,000 men aged 40 to 79 years all across Europe for their cognitive ability. They found that men who scored higher on vitamin D tests performed better in a test of attention and information processing speed.

"The positive effects vitamin D appears to have on the brain need to be explored further but certainly raise questions about its potential benefit for minimizing ageing-related declines in cognitive performance," said lead author Dr David Lee, of Manchester’s School of Translational Medicine.

If the results pan out, it adds yet another entry to the already long list of conditions which high levels of vitamin D may help with, most notably preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer.