Andrea Wong, PhD, vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN, Washington D.C.) said a new study reinforces that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
In response to a study published online in Neurology, “Vitamin D and the Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer Disease,” Wong issued a statement saying decades of research have shown that vitamin D, in combination with calcium, plays an important role in bone health and in more recent years, additional benefits for this vitamin have come to light, including the results from this latest study.
“Further, according to research, vitamin D has been identified as a nutrient of public health concern in the government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as it is one of the nutrients for which people fall short,” said Wong.
Optimal nutrition is just one of the many healthy habits that people need in order to help prevent disease, and vitamin D is a key element to attaining optimal nutrition, she continued.
“It is exciting that this study’s findings supported the hypothesis that vitamin D may be neuroprotective; however, it is important to continue investigating this association, and manage expectations for vitamin D’s isolated role in preventing complicated diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,” said Wong.
For more information, visit www.crnusa.org.
