Health and Disability

The authors of the study, published in Neurology, state that low concentrations of vitamin D are associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. Worryingly, there are high rates of vitamin D deficiency in older adults - the group most at risk from developing dementia.

The CDC report that one third of the US population do not get sufficient amounts of vitamin D, with 8% of the population at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is obtained from sun exposure and foods such as milk, eggs, cheese and fatty fish.

During this follow-up period, 171 of the participants developed dementia and 102 participants developed Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found the participants with low levels of vitamin D were 53% more likely to develop dementia, and those who were severely deficient were 125% more likely, when compared with participants with regular levels of vitamin D.

Similarly, participants with low levels of vitamin D saw a 70% increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and those with severe deficiency had an increased risk of 120%, again when compared with participants with normal levels of the vitamin.