Adults who take a vitamin supplement every day could cut their risk of developing dementia, a new study has found.
It's widely known that taking vitamin D during the darker months of the year can help maintain healthy bones and a stronger immune system, but new evidence suggests further benefits. Research conducted in France found that individuals with vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L were nearly three times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, reports GloucestershireLive
Remarkably, over 60 per cent of the UK falls below these levels. Another study earlier this year, involving more than 12,000 individuals aged 70 and above who were free from dementia, indicated that supplements can be effective in reducing the risk of this condition.
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Over a third (37 per cent) of the participants were taking vitamin D supplements and experienced a 40 per cent decrease in the incidence of dementia. Vitamin D expert Dr William Grant, advisor to the prevention charity foodforthebrain.org, claims people are still underestimating the power of the vitamin.
He says: "All the evidence regarding cardiometabolic diseases, cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases and pregnancy outcomes shows that you need a blood level of vitamin D above 75 nmol/L to be healthy, and the same is proving true for the brain."
Be sure to speak to your doctor first before making any drastic changes to your diet. Supplementing with vitamin D can be simple and cheap. Boots is offering 180 tablets for £4.00, working out as around 2p per pill. Meanwhile, Superdrug has a 90-pack of high strength tablets for £4.99.
Dr Grant, and the NHS, recommends every adult should consider taking a vitamin D supplement between October and March, as our main source of the vitamin, the sun, is not as strong during these times. If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people, though those with darker skin typically need more.
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While vitamin D is found in a small amount of foods, it likely you don't eat enough of them to reach a healthy level. Sources include:
- oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel
- red meat
- liver
- egg yolks
- fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals
Meanwhile, the NHS says different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way. But there are some common early symptoms that may appear some time before a diagnosis of dementia. These include:
- memory loss
- difficulty concentrating
- finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- being confused about time and place
- mood changes
These symptoms are often mild and may get worse only very gradually. The NHS adds dementia is not a natural part of ageing.
Those experiencing memory problems or other symptoms should visit the GP sooner rather than later.
