Is Vitamin D associated with lower levels of Alzheimer’s biomarkers?

• Researchers have noted an association between high vitamin D levels and low levels of tau protein on brain scans after several years.
• Tau protein is a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia.
• There was no association between vitamin D and levels of amyloid-beta, another Alzheimer’s biomarker.

The authors of a new study have reported that having higher levels of vitamin D was associated with lower levels of tau protein — a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease — several years later.

“These results suggest that higher vitamin D levels in midlife may offer protection against developing these tau deposits in the brain,” said study author Martin David Mulligan, MB BCh BAO, of the University of Galway in Ireland in a press release.

“Low vitamin D levels could potentially be a risk factor that could be modified and treated to reduce the risk of dementia.”

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that the body produces when sunlight touches the skin. Most people can obtain what they need through sun exposure, but during winter months, when there is less sunlight, people can get it from supplements and some foods.

This vitamin is important for keeping bones, muscles, and teeth healthy by regulating the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the body. It can also play a role in reducing inflammation, supporting the immune system, and managing glucose levels.