Key points from article :
Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.
But what if you could stop this degenerative disease in its tracks?
New genetic research shows a direct link between dementia and a lack of vitamin D.
Globally, more than 55 million people have dementia with 10 million new cases diagnosed every year.
Genetic study analysed data from 294,514 participants from the UK Biobank.
Nonlinear Mendelian randomisation (MR) were used to test for underlying causality for neuroimaging outcomes, dementia, and stroke.
17 per cent of dementia cases might be prevented by increasing everyone to normal levels of vitamin D (50 nmol/L).
“Dementia is a progressive and debilitating disease that can devastate individuals and families alike,” says senior investigator, Prof Hyppönen.
He added modifications to diet may not be enough, and vitamin D supplementation may well be needed.
