Vitamin D deficit is associated with accelerated brain aging.

While “size does not matter” is a universally preached dictum among the politically correct, everyday experience tells us that this can’t be the whole story—under many conditions, it clearly does. Does a bigger brain make you necessarily smarter or wiser? And is there any simple connection between the size of a nervous system, however measured, and the mental powers of the owner of this nervous system?

If we stick with “yes, size does matter” then what evidence do we have to “grow bigger brains”. I came across a new study that demonstrates how vitamin D deficiency can aid in brain atrophy which in turn can accelerate brain ageing.

So let’s get into it.

Here’s a sneak peak at this topic that I posted on Instagram recently.

Primer

Vitamin D is an important calcium-regulating hormone with diverse functions in numerous tissues, including the brain. Increasing evidence suggests that vitamin D may play a role in maintaining cognitive function and that vitamin D deficiency may accelerate age-related cognitive decline.

In recent years, there is particular concern that large segments of the population may have low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and therefore are vitamin D-deficient. Due to factors such as reduced intake, absorption, and decreased exposure to sunlight, aging adults (≥50 y of age) are especially susceptible. Notably, this predisposition for lower 25OHD levels in the elderly has been linked to higher risk for numerous age-related disorders, including cancer and metabolic and vascular diseases.

Vitamin D does a lot of things in our bodies, but especially with brain health in mind, it regulates inflammation and neurotrophic growth factors and takes care of vasoprotection and amyloid phagocytosis and clearance. And yet, depending on the population you look at, between 5–40% of people are deficient.

Accelerated brain ageing in the general population.

The researchers of this article sought to investigate associations of vitamin D levels with imaging patterns of brain aging. In addition, we investigated whether low vitamin D levels were associated with gray matter volumes, whole brain volumes and hippocampus volumes. Structural MRI data and vitamin D levels were obtained in 1,865 subjects from the general population.

Linear regressions were applied to investigate the association of vitamin D levels and vitamin D deficiency with imaging derived brain age, total brain, gray matter and hippocampal volumes. Different sets of covariates were included.

Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with increased brain age. Also, linear vitamin D levels were significantly associated with total brain and gray matter volumes, while no significant association with hippocampal volume was found.

The hippocampal region (the CA fields, dentate gyrus, and subicular complex) is part of a system of anatomically related structures in the medial temporal lobe that are important for mammalian memory. In humans, monkeys, and rodents, damage to this region impairs performance on a variety of tasks of learning and memory.

Strategies to fight hippocampal loss and protect against the development of memory impairment has become an important topic in recent years from both scientific and public health perspectives.

In the study listed above, the authors used data from a large general-population sample, they found that vitamin D deficiency was associated with neuroimaging patterns of advanced brain aging, which supports and extends previous results suggesting a link between vitamin D deficits and brain structural alterations in elderly individuals.

Moreover, their results revealed that vitamin D levels were positively associated with total brain and gray matter volumes as well as hippocampal volume.

What is the right D hormone dose?

For most people the daily supplemental D dose will be 1-5000 IU per day in summer, 5-7,000 IU per day in winter, but if your level is 30 or below and it’s winter, it is recommended that you take 10-15,000 IU for 4 weeks to get your level back above 50 more rapidly. Then check your level again in no more than 4 weeks to be sure it is above 60.

What now?

First step is ordering a blood test and testing for Vitamin D. No need to rush out to the doctors and order this in a frantic, just be mindful during your next check up with you GP.

Secondly, if you decide to take vitamin D in supplement form and you have sleep issues, you might want to try dosing your vitamin D at night or in the late afternoon.

Well, I sure hope you got excited about Vitamin D!

I’m going to explore this further with a follow up podcast next week so make sure you have subscribed.

Here’s the latest episode!