From this morning...
Out on a walk. The guy was harvesting scallops as it was low tide. Fancy resort hotel in the background.
Posted on 06/15/2022 8:54:58 PM PDT by House Atreides
Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide, affecting thinking and behaviours as you age. But what if you could stop this degenerative disease in its tracks?
A world-first study from the University of South Australia could make this a reality as new genetic research shows a direct link between dementia and a lack of vitamin D.
Investigating the association between vitamin D, neuroimaging features, and the risk of dementia and stroke, the study found:
* low levels of vitamin D were associated with lower brain volumes and an increased risk of dementia and stroke
* genetic analyses supported a causal effect of vitamin D deficiency and dementia.
* in some populations as much as 17 per cent of dementia cases might be prevented by increasing everyone to normal levels of vitamin D (50 nmol/L).
Dementia is a chronic or progressive syndrome that leads to deterioration in cognitive function. About 487,500 Australians live with dementia and it is the country’s second leading cause of death. Globally, more than 55 million people have dementia with 10 million new cases diagnosed every year.
Supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council, the genetic study analysed data from 294,514 participants from the UK Biobank, examining the impact of low levels of vitamin D (25 nmol/L) and the risk of dementia and stroke. Nonlinear Mendelian randomisation (MR) – a method of using measured variation in genes to examine the causal effect of a modifiable exposure on disease - were used to test for underlying causality for neuroimaging outcomes, dementia, and stroke.
Senior investigator and Director of UniSA’s Australian Centre for Precision Health, Professor Elina Hyppönen, says the findings are important for the prevention of dementia and appreciating the need to abolish vitamin D deficiency.
“Vitamin D is a hormone precursor that is increasingly recognised for widespread effects, including on brain health, but until now it has been very difficult to examine what would happen if we were able to prevent vitamin D deficiency,” Prof Hyppönen says.
“Our study is the first to examine the effect of very low levels of vitamin D on the risks of dementia and stroke, using robust genetic analyses among a large population.
“In some contexts, where vitamin D deficiency is relatively common, our findings have important implications for dementia risks. Indeed, in this UK population we observed that up to 17 per cent of dementia cases might have been avoided by boosting vitamin D levels to be within a normal range.”
The findings are incredibly significant given the high prevalence of dementia around the world.
“ Dementia is a progressive and debilitating disease that can devastate individuals and families alike,” Prof Hyppönen says.
“If we’re able to change this reality through ensuring that none of us is severely vitamin D deficient, it would also have further benefits and we could change the health and wellbeing for thousands.”
“Most of us are likely to be ok, but for anyone who for whatever reason may not receive enough vitamin D from the sun, modifications to diet may not be enough, and supplementation may well be needed.”
Bkmk
For those of you who want to reference the actual study report with all its statistical minutia and methodology, the link is:
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ajcn/nqac107/6572356?login=false
Altitude of sun: 50 degrees plus. 15 minutes
One of the few silver linings of living in CA is just 10 minutes outside (with no sunscreen) provides all the Vitamin D needed….
Sure wish we had sunlight in my state...
Most people are D deficient.
For anyone who really wants to absorb D the best way possible, get a supplement that does D and vitamin K2 together.
If you don’t want to go outside, stick your arm out the window for 10 or 15 mins every day.
UK, fine, but hard to figure all the cases of dementia in states like FL, AZ, S Calif, CO, etc. if it’s Vit D deficiency
You are in Spain?
Well, darn. Big Pharma can’t get rich selling vitamin D. So, don’t expect MSM to highlight anything regarding benefits of vitamin D. And, if word ever managed to get out that vitamin D was superior to vaccines in protection from Covid, MSM would criminalize any mention or sale of it.
From this morning...
Out on a walk. The guy was harvesting scallops as it was low tide. Fancy resort hotel in the background.
No, probably where suncalc defaulted to for you.
I watch live webcams from there. It looks like it rains more than the sun shines
Gotcha beat. Sun angle 71° (I’m so 12°N latitude)
“but hard to figure all the cases of dementia in states like FL, AZ, S Calif, CO, etc. if it’s Vit D deficiency”
Many people deliberately stay out of the sun and wear long sleeves in locations where sunshine is abundant due to fear of melanoma. In addition, it is common among people with abundant melanin to avoid sun and resultant darkening of complexion.
During monsoon season, sure.
The sun altitude has to be 50 degrees or greater.
Less than that angle, the good UV bounces off the atmosphere.
You probably don't have much atmosphere bounce all year long.
Looks like you're good to go between 9:40am and 3:00pm right now.
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