scholarly journals VITAMIN D AND DEMENTIA

Author(s):  
T.J. Littlejohns ◽  
K. Kos ◽  
W.E. Henley ◽  
E. Kuma ◽  
D.J. Llewellyn

Emerging evidence suggests that low vitamin D concentrations are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of dementia. This is of particular interest when considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in elderly adults and the urgent need to identify modifiable risk factors for dementia. Studies have found that vitamin D is implicated in procognitive and neuroprotective functions, including the reduction of Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks such as amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau. Cross-sectional studies have consistently found that vitamin D concentrations are significantly lower in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment compared to healthy controls. Longitudinal studies support an association between low vitamin D concentrations and an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Neuroimaging studies are beginning to uncover the potential neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular mechanisms that underlie these associations such as white matter hyperintensities and enlarged ventricular volume, although there is currently a lack of longitudinal studies. In contrast to observational studies, findings from interventional studies have produced mixed results on the benefits of vitamin D supplementation on dementia and cognitive outcomes. Interpretation of the findings from these studies is hampered by several major methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, inadequate doses and inclusion of participants unlikely to benefit from vitamin D supplementation. There is a need for large double-blind randomised-control trials investigating whether vitamin D supplementation can halt or delay the risk of dementia-related outcomes in individuals with low vitamin D concentrations.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadia Sultan ◽  
Uzma Taimuri ◽  
Shatha Abdulrzzaq Basnan ◽  
Waad Khalid Ai-Orabi ◽  
Afaf Awadallah ◽  
...  

Vitamin D is a neurosteroid hormone that regulates neurotransmitters and neurotrophins. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. It increases neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor which further promotes brain health. Moreover, it is also helpful in the prevention of amyloid accumulation and promotes amyloid clearance. Emerging evidence suggests its role in the reduction of Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks such as amyloid-beta and phosphorylated tau. Many preclinical studies have supported the hypothesis that vitamin D leads to attentional, behavioral problems and cognitive impairment. Cross-sectional studies have consistently found that vitamin D levels are significantly low in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment compared to healthy adults. Longitudinal studies and meta-analysis have also exhibited an association of low vitamin D with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Despite such evidence, the causal association cannot be sufficiently answered. In contrast to observational studies, findings from interventional studies have produced mixed results on the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment and dementia. The biggest issue of the existing RCTs is their small sample size, lack of consensus over the dose, and age of initiation of vitamin D supplements to prevent cognitive impairment. Therefore, there is a need for large double-blind randomized control trials to assess the benefits of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment.


2019 ◽  
pp. jnnp-2018-320199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingya Jia ◽  
Jing Hu ◽  
Xiaoxu Huo ◽  
Rujuan Miao ◽  
Yanping Zhang ◽  
...  

ObjectiveOur study aimed to assess the effect of a 12-month vitamin D supplementation on cognitive function and amyloid beta (Aβ)-related biomarkers in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Methods This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 210 AD patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Participants received 12-month 800 IU/day of vitamin D or starch granules as placebo. Tests of cognitive performance and Aβ-related biomarkers were measured at baseline, 6 months and 12 months.Results Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed significant improvements in plasma Aβ42, APP, BACE1, APPmRNA, BACE1mRNA (p<0.001) levels and information, arithmetic, digit span, vocabulary, block design and picture arrange scores (p<0.05) in the intervention group over the control group. According to mixed-model analysis, vitamin D group had significant increase in full scale IQ during follow-up period (p<0.001).ConclusionsDaily oral vitamin D supplementation (800 IU/day) for 12 months may improve cognitive function and decrease Aβ-related biomarkers in elderly patients with AD. Larger scale longer term randomised trials of vitamin D are needed.Trial registration numberChiCTR-IIR-16009549.


2021 ◽  
pp. 28-31
Author(s):  
Deepali Srivastava ◽  
Sandeepa Srivastava ◽  
Ashish Kumar ◽  
Sanjiv Kumar

Introduction: Osteoporosis is more prevalent in women, especially following menopause. The total affected population would have been around 35 to 40 million. Morbidity due to disease includes decreased mobility, decreased quality of life, and increased risk of mortality following an osteoporotic fracture. The morbidity due to the disease may be decreased through diet, exercise, supplementation, and medication. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of 'concern for osteoporosis' and self-perceived 'risk of osteoporosis and fracture' on antiosteoporosis behaviour such as (1) calcium and vitamin D supplementation, (2) seeking medical advice, (3) undergoing bone mineral (BMD) testing, and (4) taking antiosteoporosis medication (AOM). Material And Method:The study was conducted on women attending outpatient clinic of the Obstretics and Gynaecology and Orthopaedics department. Patients were required to ll up the Global Longitudinal Osteoporosis in Women Questionnaire. Enrolled patients were contacted after one year by means of telephone calls, hospital visits and home visits and data was collected for self-reported use of supplements, self-reported seeking of medical advice regarding osteoporosis, self-reported BMD testing, and self-reported use of antiosteoporosis medications etc. Results:Total of 1562 women were enrolled for the study out of which data of only 1000 women was analyzed at end of one year. At the end of one year period 360 women reported use of Calcium and or Vitamin D. Table 4 depicts the association between the use of vitamin supplementation and concern and risk perception. Concern (P=0.61), risk perception to osteoporosis (P=0.13), and risk perception to fracture (P=0.29) were not signicantly associated with use of vitamin supplementation in the next 12 months (i.e., calcium and/or vitamin D). Concern (p= <0.001), risk perception to osteoporosis (p=<0.001), and risk perception to fracture (p=<0.001) were signicantly associated with women seeking medical care during the next one year. Concern (p=0.35) was not signicantly associated with undergoing BMD examination. Risk perception to osteoporosis (p=0.03) and risk perception to fracture (p=0.03) were signicantly associated with women undergoing BMD medical examination in one year. Concern about osteoporosis (p=0.64) was not signicantly associated with treatment with anti-osteoporotic medication. Risk perception to osteoporosis (p=0.06) and risk perception to fracture (p=0.002) were signicantly associated with women. Conclusion: Concern for osteoporosis is associated with likelihood of seeking medical advice. Perception of risk for Osteoporosis and fractures is positively associated with seeking medical advice, BMD examination and AOM treatment


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 172-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Taghizadeh ◽  
Sayyed Alireza Talaei ◽  
Abolghasem Djazayeri ◽  
Mahmoud Salami

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Siafarikas ◽  
G. Selbaek ◽  
T. Fladby ◽  
J. Šaltytė Benth ◽  
E. Auning ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), such as depression, apathy, agitation, and psychotic symptoms are common in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Subgroups of NPS have been reported. Yet the relationship of NPS and their subgroups to different stages of cognitive impairment is unclear. Most previous studies are based on small sample sizes and show conflicting results. We sought to examine the frequency of NPS and their subgroups in MCI and different stages of dementia in AD.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study using data from a Norwegian national registry of memory clinics. From a total sample of 4,571 patients, we included those with MCI or AD (MCI 817, mild AD 883, moderate–severe AD 441). To compare variables across groups ANOVA or χ2-test was applied. We used factor analysis of Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) items to identify subgroups of NPS.Results:The frequency of any NPS was 87.2% (AD 91.2%, MCI 79.5%; p < 0.001) and increased with increasing severity of cognitive decline. The most frequent NPS in MCI was depression. Apathy was the most frequent NPS in AD across different stages of severity. The factor analysis identified three subgroups in MCI and mild AD, and a fourth one in moderate–severe AD. We labelled the subgroups “depression,” “agitation,” “psychosis,” and “elation.”Conclusions:The frequency of NPS is high in MCI and AD and increases with the severity of cognitive decline. The subgroups of NPS were relatively consistent from MCI to moderate-severe AD. The subgroup elation appeared only in moderate-severe AD.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parmi Patel ◽  
Jigna Samir Shah

Abstract Purpose: A multifaceted treatment approach can be effective for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, currently, it involves only symptomatic treatment with cholinergic drugs. Beneficial effects of high vitamin D levels or its intake in the prevention and treatment of cognitive disorders have been reported. Thus, the present study examined the preventive effect of vitamin D supplementation on AD progression and evaluated its impact on the accumulation or degradation of Aβ plaques. Methods: A single intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine was used to induce AD in rats. Treatment of vitamin D was provided for 21 days after the injection. Various behavioral parameters like learning, spatial memory and exploratory behavior, biochemical alterations in the brain homogenate and histology of the hippocampus were investigated. Results: Our results indicated that scopolamine-induced rats depicted cognitive deficits with high Aβ levels and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the brain tissue, while vitamin D supplementation could significantly improve the cognitive status and lower these protein levels. These results were supported by the histopathological and immunohistochemical staining of the hippocampal brain region. Furthermore, mechanistic analysis depicted that vitamin D supplementation improved the Aβ protein clearance by increasing the neprilysin levels. It also reduced the accumulation of Aβ plaques by lowering neuroinflammation as well as oxidative stress. Conclusion: The present findings indicate that vitamin D supplementation can delay AD progression by an increase in Aβ plaques degradation or reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.


Thorax ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 977-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Stefanidis ◽  
Adrian R Martineau ◽  
Chinedu Nwokoro ◽  
Christopher J Griffiths ◽  
Andrew Bush

IntroductionVitamin D is best known for its role in bone health; however, the discovery of the vitamin D receptor and the expression of the gene encoding the vitamin D 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) enzyme in a wide variety of tissues including immune cells and respiratory epithelium has led to the discovery of potential roles for vitamin D in the prevention of acute wheeze.MethodsWe review here the literature concerning the relationships between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and secondary prevention of acute wheeze attacks in preschool and school-age children.ResultsEpidemiological data suggest that vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D <75 nmol/L) is highly prevalent in preschool and school-age children with wheeze. Preschool age children with a history of wheeze attacks and circulating 25(OH)D <75 nmol/L are at increased risk and frequency of future acute wheeze. However, no consistent association between low vitamin D status and risk of acute wheeze is reported in school-age children. Seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with relatively small sample sizes (30–430) and variable quality showed inconsistent results regarding the effect of oral vitamin D supplementation during childhood on the risk of asthma attacks, asthma symptom control, inhaled corticosteroid requirements, spirometry and unscheduled healthcare attendances for wheeze. A RCT showed that vitamin D supplementation had no effect on the frequency of unplanned healthcare attendances due to acute wheeze in 22 preschool children.DiscussionAn evidence-based recommendation for the use of vitamin D as a preventive therapy for wheeze attacks cannot be made until results of further trials are available. The assessment of circulating 25(OH)D concentration and the optimisation of vitamin D status to prevent acute respiratory tract infections, and to maintain skeletal and general health in preschool and school-age children with acute wheeze is worthwhile in its own right, but whether this will reduce the risk of acute wheeze attacks is unclear.


2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (2-4) ◽  
pp. 353-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Westmacott ◽  
Morris Freedman ◽  
Sandra E. Black ◽  
Kathryn A. Stokes ◽  
Morris Moscovitch

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