Vitamin D Deficiency and Cognitive Dysfunction

Yeonsil Moon; Seol-Heui Han

doi:10.12779/dnd.2012.11.4.111

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Moon and Han: Vitamin D Deficiency and Cognitive Dysfunction

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Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders

Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders 2012; 11(4): 111-117.

Published online: 31 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12779/dnd.2012.11.4.111

Vitamin D Deficiency and Cognitive Dysfunction

Yeonsil Moon, M.D.^*, Seol-Heui Han, M.D.^*,^†

^*Department of Neurology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

^†Department of Neurology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Seol-Heui Han, M.D. Department of Neurology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2030-7561, Fax: +82-2-2030-7469, alzdoc@kuh.ac.kr

Received 28 August 2012 Revised 25 October 2012 Accepted 18 November 2012

Abstract

Vitamin D is not a true vitamin but a fat-soluble steroid prohormone that has long been known for its important and diverse role in the biological system. Many studies have revealed that vitamin D deficiency is linked with an increased risk of autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, type II diabetes and infectious diseases. Vitamin D₃ is transformed to its active form, 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, through metabolisms in the liver and kidney. 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ interacts with its vitamin D receptor, and the brain is now known to have vitamin D receptors and 1α-hydroxylase. Several lines of evidences suggest vitamin D deficiency is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, however, its position in cognitive function is still in its infancy. Vitamin D deficiency is a reversible condition and can be easily treated with supplements. Randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation in patients with neurodegenerative conditions are needed.

Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, Cognition, Alzheimer's disease (AD)

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Major studies of the association between Vitamin D and cognitive decline or dementia

NHANESIII, the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; EMAS, European Male Ageing Study; EPIDOS, Epide'miologie de l'Oste'oporose; ZENITH, Zinc Effects in Nutrient/Nutrient Interactions and Trends in Health and Ageing; HSE, Health Survey for England 2000; InCHIANTI, Invecchiare in Chianti study; TMT A/B, Trail-Making Tests A and B; DSST, Digit Symbol Substitution Test; COWAT, Controlled oral word association test; CTRM, Camden Topographical Recognition Memory; SPMSQ, Short Portable Mental State Questionnaire; CANTAB, Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery.

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