Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
07:30
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
3.5K
Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and cognitive functioning
N M van Schoor1, H C Comijs2, D J Llewellyn3
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Center,Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
International Psychogeriatrics
|December 23, 2015
Summary
Low vitamin D levels in older adults are linked to poorer general cognitive function and slower information processing speed. This study identified an optimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) cut-off of approximately 60 nmol/L.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Neuroscience
- Cognitive Epidemiology
Background:
- Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in the elderly population.
- Understanding the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive health is crucial for aging well.
- Previous research suggests a link, but optimal levels require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and cognitive performance in older adults.
- To determine the optimal serum 25(OH)D concentration for cognitive function in this demographic.
- To explore the impact of vitamin D on various cognitive domains, including general cognition, reasoning, processing speed, and memory.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) with 1,320 participants.
- Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured in 1995/6.
- Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM), Coding Task (CT), and 15 Words Test (15WT) in 1995/6 and 1998/9.
- Statistical analyses included linear regression and restricted cubic spline functions.
Main Results:
- Mean serum 25(OH)D was 53.7 nmol/L.
- Individuals with serum 25(OH)D below 30 nmol/L exhibited significantly lower general cognitive functioning and slower information processing speed compared to those with levels ≥ 75 nmol/L.
- The optimal cut-off for serum 25(OH)D was identified as approximately 60 nmol/L for both general cognitive functioning and information processing speed.
- No significant associations were found with other cognitive measures or the rate of cognitive decline.
Conclusions:
- Lower serum 25(OH)D levels are significantly associated with diminished general cognitive functioning and reduced information processing speed in older adults.
- The findings suggest a potential threshold of 60 nmol/L for serum 25(OH)D to maintain optimal cognitive performance in this age group.
- Vitamin D status does not appear to influence the rate of cognitive decline in the longitudinal analysis.
More Related Videos
06:23The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016
34.2K
10:46A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
11.2K
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
13.7K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.7K
01:26Longitudinal Studies
656
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
656
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
1.2K
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
1.2K
01:27Language and Cognition
952
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
952
01:50Cross-Sectional Research
12.9K
In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...
12.9K