Vitamin D linked to better brain power

Vitamin D may play a key role in helping keep the brain working properly later in life, a new study claims.

Research published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry looked at over 3,000 European men aged between 40 and 79 and compared their cognitive performance.

The study found those with higher levels of vitamin D performed consistently better in an internationally-recognised test that assesses an individual’s memory, recognition capabilities and speed of information processing.

“Previous studies exploring the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive performance in adults have produced inconsistent findings,” said lead author Dr David Lee.

“But we observed a significant, independent association between a slower information-processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D.

“Interestingly, the association between increased vitamin D and faster information processing was more significant in men aged over 60 years, although the biological reasons for this remain unclear.”

Dr Lee concluded the positive effects vitamin D appears to have on the brain need to be explored further.