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Serum Vitamin D and Cingulate Cortex Thickness in Older Adults: Quantitative MRI of the Brain
Gonzague Foucault1,2, Guillaume T Duval1,2, Romain Simon1
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Angers University Hospital, Angers University Memory Clinic, Research Center on Autonomy and Longevity, UPRES EA 4638, University of Angers, Angers, France.
Background:
Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with brain changes, and cognitive and mobility declines in older adults.
Objective:
Our objective was to investigate in older adults whether vitamin D insufficiency<50nmol/L was associated with thinner cingulate cortex, a brain area related to cognitive functions influenced by vitamin D.
Methods:
Two hundred and fifteen Caucasian older community-dwellers (mean±SD, 72.1±5.5years; 40% female) received a blood test and brain MRI. The thickness of perigenual anterior cingulate cortex, midcingulate cortex and posterior cingulate cortex was measured using FreeSurfer from T1-weighted MR images. Age, gender, education, BMI, mean arterial pressure, comorbidities, use of vitamin D supplements or anti-vascular drugs, MMSE, GDS, IADL, serum calcium and vitamin B9 concentrations, creatinine clearance were used as covariables.
Results:
Participants with vitamin D insufficiency (n=80) had thinner total cingulate thickness than the others (24.6±1.9mm versus 25.3±1.4mm, P=0.001); a significant difference found for all 3 regions. Vitamin D insufficiency was cross-sectionally associated with a decreased total cingulate thickness (β=- 0.49, P=0.028). Serum 25OHD concentration correlated positively with the thickness of perigenual anterior (P=0.011), midcingulate (P=0.013) and posterior cingulate cortex (P=0.021).
Conclusion:
Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with thinner cingulate cortex in the studied sample of older adults. These findings provide insight into the pathophysiology of cognitive and mobility declines in older adults with vitamin D insufficiency.
