Study Links Midlife Vitamin D to Lower Tau Deposits 16 Years Later
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · Jul 30
Study Links Midlife Vitamin D to Lower Tau Deposits 16 Years Later
2 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · Jul 30
Summary
793 Framingham Heart Study participants showed that healthier vitamin D levels around age 39 were linked to lower Alzheimer’s-related tau deposits on PET scans about 16 years later.
430 of that group underwent later brain imaging, and researchers found the association for tau but not for amyloid beta, another protein tied to Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurology Open Access published the observational study, which the authors said is among the first to connect serum vitamin D in early midlife with preclinical dementia imaging markers.
Researchers said the findings show association, not causation, and called for clinical trials to test whether longer or higher-dose vitamin D supplementation in younger adults could help prevent dementia.