Vitamin D And E Deficiency May Be Linked To Dementia Risk

Low levels of vitamins D and E may increase the risk of developing cognitive decline such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, new studies have found.

Scientists conducting the six-year vitamin D study found that adults with lower levels of vitamin D were 60 percent more likely to experience decreased ability to plan, organize and prioritize.

In the vitamin E study, researchers found that patients who received the most vitamin E lowered their risk of developing dementia by 25 percent, in comparison to study participants who received the least vitamin E in their diets.

The researchers noted that there is not sufficient evidence to suggest recommended levels of vitamin intake to reduce cognitive decline.

Study researcher David J. Llewellyn, PhD, of the University of Exeter, England, said in an email to WebMD: “This raises the possibility that vitamin D supplements may have therapeutic potential for the prevention of dementia and clinical trials are now urgently needed. We do not yet know the optimal intake of vitamin D to protect the brain as we need the results of clinical trials to confirm this.”