Vitamin D deficiency linked to mild cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s

Vitamin D deficiency was linked to lower scores on the Mini-Mental State Exam when compared with vitamin D normal range among outpatients with Alzheimer’s disease, according to study findings presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.

Prior research has indicated a potential link between low serum vitamin D concentrations and dementia, Caroline Komatsu, MS, of UNIRIO – Escola de Medicina e Cirurgia in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and Ricardo S. Komatsu, MD, MSc, PhD, FAMEMA – Marilia Medical School in Brazil, wrote in the abstract.

The researchers assessed the vitamin D levels and Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores of 54 outpatients with Alzheimer’s disease from a geriatrics clinic.

Overall, 39 patients (72.2%) had vitamin D levels in the normal range (levels of 30 mg/nL or more) and 15 patients (27.78%) had vitamin D deficiency (levels of less than 30 ng/mL).

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Among those with vitamin D levels in the normal range, eight patients (20.51%) had moderate cognitive impairment as measured by the MMSE and 31 patients (79.49%) had mild cognitive impairment. Comparatively, among patients with vitamin D deficiency, one patient (6.67%) had severe cognitive impairment, three patients (20%) had moderate cognitive impairment and 11 patients (73.33%) had mild cognitive impairment, according to the abstract.

The researchers also reported that participants in both groups had nearly the same educational level on average (8.12 years among those with normal vitamin D levels vs. 8.38 years among those with vitamin D deficiency). – by Savannah Demko

References:

Komatsu C, Komatsu RS. Alzheimer's disease: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with lower Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores when compared to vitamin D normal range. Presented at: Alzheimer's Association International Conference; July 14-18, 2019; Los Angeles.

Disclosures: Healio Psychiatry was unable to confirm any relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.