{"id":827271,"date":"2026-08-27T06:26:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T06:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/827271\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T06:26:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T06:26:20","slug":"can-vitamin-d-protect-cognitive-function-help-delay-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/827271\/","title":{"rendered":"Can vitamin D protect cognitive function, help delay dementia?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"olderShare on Pinterest<\/a>Supplementing vitamin D may help protect brain health in older adults at risk of dementia. SolStock\/ Getty ImagesIn 2021, there were about 57 million people globally living with dementia.Early symptoms of dementia can include signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and sleep issues. Previous research shows certain nutrients may help slow dementia progression, such as vitamin D.A new study suggests that consuming a higher amount of vitamin D may improve cognitive function in older adults who have both MCI and problems sleeping. <\/p>\n

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021 there were about 57 million people<\/a> globally living with dementia<\/a>, an umbrella term for diseases that impact a person\u2019s ability to think and remember, such as Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, a new study published in the journal Sleep Medicine<\/a> says that consuming a higher amount of vitamin D is linked to improved cognitive function in older adults who have both MCI and problems sleeping<\/a>. <\/p>\n

For this study, researchers recruited 54 adults with an average age of about 67 who had diagnosed or suspected MCI and sleeping problems. <\/p>\n

Study participants also self-reported their daily vitamin D consumption and dosage. <\/p>\n

\u201cVitamin D is especially interesting because it\u2019s part of everyday life, yet we\u2019re still learning about the role it may play in cognitive health,\u201d Victoria Pak<\/a>, PhD, MS, MTR, associate professor at Emory University in Atlanta and senior author of the study, told Medical News Today.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe focused on people with sleep disturbances and mild cognitive impairment because sleep and cognition are closely connected, and we wanted to understand whether vitamin D supplement intake was associated with differences in cognitive function in this group,\u201d added Pak.<\/p>\n

At the study\u2019s conclusion, researchers discovered that study participants who reported taking 5,000 international units (IU) or more of vitamin D each day scored more than 13% higher on the MoCA, when compared to those who didn\u2019t take a vitamin D supplement. <\/p>\n

\u201cScores differed by approximately four points on the MoCA,\u201d Pak said. \u201cThis was an observational study, so we need to be cautious about how we interpret the finding. What makes the result important to investigate further is that we observed this relationship in people with mild cognitive impairment and sleep disturbances.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe amount of vitamin D someone needs can vary, so anyone concerned about their levels should talk with their healthcare provider about whether testing is appropriate,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n

For the next steps in this research, Pak said they plan to test these findings in a clinical trial to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can influence cognition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the trial shows that vitamin D contributes to the differences in cognitive function we observed, that could open up new possibilities for supporting cognitive health,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

MNT had the opportunity to speak with Manisha Santosh Parulekar<\/a>, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and co-director of the Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health at Hackensack University Medical Center.<\/p>\n

Parulekar, who was not involved in this study, commented that her first reaction to this its findings was one of optimism. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe findings highlight an accessible, noninvasive intervention for an at-risk group,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt reinforces the hypothesis that dietary modifications impact cognitive decline.\u201d <\/p>\n

MNT also spoke with Dung Trinh<\/a>, MD, an internist for MemorialCare Medical Group and chief medical officer of Healthy Brain Clinic in Irvine, CA, who likewise was not involved in this study. <\/p>\n

Trinh said that he found this to be an intriguing and clinically relevant finding, particularly because sleep disturbance is so common in patients with mild cognitive impairment and may contribute to worsening cognitive health over time. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe study found that participants taking 5,000 IU or more of vitamin D daily had better cognitive scores, but I would emphasize that this was a small, cross-sectional study involving only 54 participants, so it shows an association rather than proving that high-dose vitamin D improves cognition,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill, the magnitude of the observed difference is enough to justify larger and more rigorous studies,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n

When asked how vitamin D might help improve cognitive function in people with sleep disturbances and MCI, Trinh said one possible explanation is vitamin D\u2019s role in regulating inflammation<\/a> and immune function. <\/p>\n

\u201cPoor sleep has been associated with increased inflammatory activity, and neuroinflammation may contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative processes. Vitamin D may help modulate inflammatory signaling, and there is also some evidence that vitamin D status is related to sleep quality. That creates a plausible biological pathway in which adequate vitamin D could potentially support both sleep and brain health, although this study did not directly demonstrate that mechanism and the broader research on vitamin D and cognition remains mixed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Dung Trinh, MD<\/p>\n

Monique Richard<\/a>, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, IFNCP, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight \u2014 who was not involved in this study \u2014 added that in addition to inflammation, vitamin D appears to influence other pathways relevant to brain health, including oxidative stress<\/a>, neuronal signaling, and neurotrophic factors. <\/p>\n

\u201cSleep disturbance itself can also amplify inflammation and metabolic stress, so vitamin D may be one piece of a much larger sleep\u2013brain\u2013immune connection,\u201d Richard continued. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy perspective is that the greatest potential benefit may be in identifying someone who is insufficient or deficient rather than assuming that \u2018more is always better.\u2019 Evidence from larger trials remains mixed, which is an important part of the story, emphasizing the fact that personalizing recommendations is best,\u201d she told us.<\/p>\n

\u201cVitamin D may not be a magic memory pill, but correcting a deficiency could be one modifiable piece of the brain-health puzzle,\u201d Richard added. <\/p>\n

For those worrying about their vitamin D intake, Richard recommended first looking at the whole picture rather than immediately reaching for a high-dose supplement of D2 or D3<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cVitamin D is naturally present in relatively few foods, but fatty fish<\/a> such as salmon and trout, egg yolks<\/a>, and fortified milk or plant-based beverages can contribute in meaningful, beneficial amounts. Reading labels, understanding sources and whether that item \u2014 irradiated mushrooms, for example \u2014 are contributing reliable amounts, are a few additional tips to consider with Vitamin D.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u2013 Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, IFNCP<\/p>\n

For people with limited sun exposure<\/a>, low dietary intake, or other risk factors, Richard said supplementation may be appropriate \u2014 but ideally based on an individual\u2019s health history, dietary pattern, medications, ethnicity, conversion rate, and, when clinically indicated, a 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cImportantly, the 5,000-IU dose in this study should not be interpreted as a universal recommendation,\u201d she continued. \u201cThe NIH lists 4,000 IU\/day<\/a> as the tolerable upper intake level for most adults from food and supplements combined, although higher doses may sometimes be used under medical supervision to treat deficiency.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cConsulting with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can help meet people where they are at and tailor an appropriate recommendation and game plan for their needs,\u201d Richard added. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal with vitamin D is to identify whether it is a missing piece of that individual\u2019s health picture and then how that piece can be addressed most appropriately to reap the benefits and support the body and mind\u2019s needs,\u201d the dietitian concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestSupplementing vitamin D may help protect brain health in older adults at risk of dementia. SolStock\/…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":827272,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[1103,97,269,1199],"class_list":["post-827271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-dementia","tag-health","tag-nutrition","tag-vitamin-d"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/827271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=827271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/827271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/827272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=827271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=827271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=827271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}