Was the "D" about dementia all along?
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
| |
| Sponsored by |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| We keep hearing that vitamin D does a bit of everything. I’m a believer because I’ve been taking a generous dose of vitamins D3 and K2 for years, and I rarely get sick. Though the link between a healthy level of vitamin D in the blood and immune and cardiovascular health is well known, I only vaguely sensed that it might have a role in brain health, too. So, this week’s news that supplementation with the vitamin may preserve cognition in older adults looked like something to share with Wellness Wire’s readers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Let’s investigate!
Tim Snaith
Newsletter Editor |
 |
|
Written by Tim Snaith
September 2, 2026 • 2 min read |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| SPONSORED |
| Start Losing Weight with LifeMD |
| Take LifeMD’s quiz to check whether you’re a good fit for this treatment option, and start today for as low as $39.* |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
Around 57 million people worldwide live with dementia, and researchers are always looking for low risk ways to slow its onset. A new study pushes a familiar solution to the fore.
Sleep Medicine published research that looked at 54 older adults, with an average age of about 67 years, who had both mild cognitive impairment and trouble sleeping. Those who reported taking 5,000 IU or more of vitamin D per day scored more than 13% higher on a standard cognitive test, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), than those taking none.
As the senior author of the research, Victoria Pak of Emory University, is at pains to point out, this is an observational study that highlights a link rather than proving that the vitamin was responsible.
But if vitamin D is making a difference to brain health, its effect on inflammation may be the key.
Vitamin D helps regulate inflammation and immune signaling, and low quality sleep tends to raise inflammatory activity in the brain. By dampening chronic inflammation, addressing a vitamin shortfall could support both sleep and memory. The real value may lie in spotting and correcting a deficiency rather than assuming that more vitamin D is better.
By the way, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sets the tolerable upper limit between 1,000 to 4,000 IU a day for most adults from food and supplements combined, with higher amounts reserved for treating a diagnosed deficiency under medical supervision. As our skin ages, it becomes less efficient at making vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, which is why levels often dip with age. Anyone thinking of topping up beyond this should test first and speak with a doctor or dietitian.
The new study gives us a clue about the role of vitamin D in the aging brain, but it’s not a slam dunk. A clinical trial is now planned to test whether it genuinely improves cognition, so I look forward to following up on this story in a future Wellness Wire. |
|
|
| 🎤 Over to you: Have you had a vitamin D test, or do you take a regular vitamin D supplement? Share your story with us at wellnesswire@healthline.com, and you might see your experience featured in an upcoming edition! |
| |
|
|
| |
| Sponsored by |
|
 |
|
|
|
| Simplified healthcare |
| |
| |
| |
 |
| LifeMD |
LifeMD gives you easy online access to setting up appointments with healthcare professionals, including primary, urgent, and chronic care. You’ll also find discounts on many prescription drugs, such as GLP-1 medications, to help you manage your weight.
With LifeMD, you can get these medications prescribed online (no in-person visit needed) and sent straight to your door. Click below to check whether this treatment option is right for you, and start today for as low as $39.* |
|
|
| *Disclaimer: Take precaution with and read all warnings concerning GLP-1s, as they may cause serious side effects, including a risk of thyroid c-cell tumors. Do not use if you or your family have a history of a type of thyroid cancer called MTC (medullary thyroid carcinoma) or MEN 2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome). Discount applies to the introductory first month of the LifeMD Weight Management Program, including program and provider fees. The program is $39 for the first month, you’ll be automatically charged $297 after the first month and every 3 months thereafter. Insurance coverage for the program may be available for eligible patients, with costs starting as low as $29 depending on plan coverage. Cost of medication not included. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
| Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency |
| Nearly 42% of adults in the United States have a vitamin D deficiency, rising to almost 63% in Hispanic adults and 82% in African American adults. Learn more about the symptoms and treatments for this common nutritional deficiency. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| Until next time, |
 |
Take care of yourself, and we’ll see
you again soon! |
| |
|
 |
| |
 |
| This edition was powered by |
| a long weekend. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
View in browser
Did a friend send you this email? Subscribe here.
To see all newsletters, click here.
Privacy | Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences
We may feature your messages to our inbox within our content. Please do not provide any personal identifiable information. Replies may be edited for length and clarity. For more, see our Privacy Policy.
Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Healthline does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional.
Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline’s or Optum Now’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health.
© 2026 RVO Health
1101 Red Ventures Drive
Fort Mill, SC 29707 |
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe. |
|
If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.
No comments:
Post a Comment