Vitamin D and Memory Decline: Two Population-Based Prospective Studies

Abstract

Background Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with dementia risk, cognitive decline and executive dysfunction. However, the association with memory remains largely unknown. Objective To investigate whether low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are associated with memory decline. Methods We used data on 1,291 participants from the US Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and 915 participants from the Dutch Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) who were dementia-free at baseline, had valid vitamin D measurements and follow-up memory assessments. The Benton Visual Retention Test (in the CHS) and Rey’s Auditory Verbal Learning Test (in the LASA) were used to assess visual and verbal memory respectively. Results In the CHS, those moderately and severely deficient in serum 25(OH)D changed −0.03 SD (95% CI: −0.06 to 0.01) and −0.10 SD (95% CI: −0.19 to −0.02) per year respectively in visual memory compared to those sufficient (p = 0.02). In the LASA, moderate and severe deficiency in serum 25(OH)D was associated with a mean change of 0.01 SD (95% CI: −0.01 to 0.02) and −0.01 SD (95% CI: −0.04 to 0.02) per year respectively in verbal memory compared to sufficiency (p = 0.34). Conclusions Our findings suggest an association between severe vitamin D deficiency and visual memory decline but no association with verbal memory decline. They warrant further investigation in prospective studies assessing different memory subtypes.

Vitamin D Insufficiency and Cognitive Function Trajectories in Older Adults: The Rancho Bernardo Study

“…In the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study [35], lower levels of 25OHD were not significantly associated with lower cognitive test scores at baseline or with greater decline in cognitive test scores over 3 and 11-year follow-ups. Prospective studies of memory have also had variable results; low VitD was associated with visual memory decline in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), but not with verbal memory change in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) [36]. It is notable that our study, like most other prospective studies of VitD and cognitive function, is based on a single baseline measurement of VitD.…”

A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of The Effect of Low Vitamin D on Cognition

“…5,7,8,16,27,[36][37][38][39][40][41] Eight studies reported vitamin D as a continuous variable, 5,6,10,27,29,36,39,42 27 as a categorical variable, and three reported both. Seventeen studies used a-priori cut offs 6,8,[14][15][16]28,34,35,37,41,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49] and 13 categorized into tertiles, 9,17,38,50,51 quartiles, 7,12,18,33 or quintiles. 13,40,52,53 The majority of studies analyzed serum 25OHD with four analyzing plasma 25OHD.…”

“…Ten studies classified cognition dichotomously (e.g. decline vs no decline) 9,11,12,17,18,33,43,45,51,53 and 28 reported cognition as a continuous score. Overall, 52 neuropsychological tests were used (Table 1).…”

“…Ray Auditory Verbal Learning Test, 5,9,15 California Verbal Learning Test, 27 WAIS-Logical Memory delay, [40][41][42] East Boston Memory Test, 13 Wechsler Memory Scale-recall, 47 immediate and delayed word list recall, 7,14,17,39,42,43,50 Rappel indice-48 items, 29 Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure-recognition, 8 CANTAB-Paired Associate Learning, 46 Camden Topographical Recognition Memory, 16,36 WAIS-Visual Reproductions, 41,42 Wechsler Memory Scale-Logical Memory Recognition, 47 Digit Span-forward, 9,27,29,34,37,42,46,47 Digit Spanback, 9,13,27,29,34,37,42,46,47 Serial-Digit Learning Test, 39,40 CANTAB-verbal recognition, 37,46 CANTAB-spatial working memory, 37,…”

Integrating assessment of cognitive status in elderly cardiovascular care

“…30 The Lawton IADL scale 22 These include thyroid dysfunction, vitamin B12 deficiency, and depression. More recently, there is evidence for underlying sleep disorders, 31 sensorineural hearing loss, 32 and vitamin D deficiency 33 as potential treatable contributors to cognitive impairment. Harnessing brief screens such as the STOP-BANG Sleep Apnea questionnaire, 34 Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Version, 35 and the brief Geriatric Depression Scale 36 may help in screening for these causes.…”