Vitamin D may be among the most important anti-aging therapies for the brain, according to a major new European study.
The European Male Aging Study, which focused on more than 3300 men between 40 and 80 years old, showed that low levels of the vitamin are definitely associated with slower mental processing, reduced cognitive function, and concentration problems.
The study authors, reporting their results in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, said that while high levels of the vitamin correlated with high scores on cognitive function tests, more clinical tests are needed to fully interpret their findings.
Though the study clearly demonstrated the correlation between D vitamin levels and cognitive function/processing speed, the findings stopped short of identifying the vitamin as a treatment for aging brains.
Instead, the researchers noted that the association could be simply a "risk marker", indicating a risk for cognitive decline.
The study concluded that in light of the findings and the fact that vitamin D deficiency is common among older adults, more research is warranted to determine whether supplementation could aid in minimizing age-related cognitive decline.
The European study is the latest of many research projects to investigate the association between levels of D vitamin - often referred to as the sunshine vitamin because sun exposure triggers its production in the body - and brain health.
The vitamin is known to play a significant role in brain biochemistry.
Nuclear receptors for the vitamin exist in the brain, and it is involved in the biosynthesis of neurotrophins, protiens responsible for neuron growth and development.
Because neurotrophins can also repair damaged neurons, some believe they have potential for use in reversing age-related brain disorders including Alzheimer's Disease.
In addition, recent studies have revealed that insufficient levels of the vitamin are strongly correlated with incidence of depression.