Could This Vitamin a Day Keep Dementia Away?

Every day I look for new ways to help my assisted living residents recover from Dementia. Or at least slow the progression dramatically.

It sure ain’t easy.

Turning dementia around is hard. Really hard.

What is easier it seems is preventing it. Leading a very healthy lifestyle. Staying away from processed foods. Cutting out alcohol. Not smoking. Exercising, Sleeping well. Avoiding stress. Challenging your brain.

All of these have been shown to reduce your chances of a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Turns out taking a vitamin may help as well.

Or spending time in the sun.

The vitamin I’m talking about is vitamin D. You’ve probably heard of it. A lot of people say it acts more like a hormone than a vitamin. That’s because it plays so many roles in your body.

• Strengthens your bones

• Improves your immune system

• Helps your endocrine system

It can help your body with problems such as cancer, depression and chronic pain.

In 2023 scientists performed an observational study (not the most rigorous to be sure) comparing 12,388 people from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. Here are their results:

APOE ε4 is the gene that raises your risk of Alzheimer’s.

They concluded “Vitamin D may be an agent for dementia prevention.” Of course they say more research (and more grant money) is needed.

I’m a big fan of vitamin D. Especially the ways to raise your level of it. You can put more vitamin D in your body through three actions:

1. Eating a lot of Vitamin D foods (salmon, sardines, mackerel, beef, eggs, liver, chicken and dairy products)

2. Exposing your skin to sunlight

3. Supplementation

I am not a big fan, as some healthcare institutions are, of eating foods fortified with vitamin D such as cereal and orange juice. The downside risks of dementia from cereal and orange juice (sugar) to me are not overcome with vitamin fortification.

Vitamin D from food, sun and supplementation is inert. Your body cannot use it effectively until it goes through a process called hydroxylation in your liver and then your kidneys. So it’s important to keep those organs in good health as well.

Low-carb diets help both organs.

Having your vitamin D levels checked is pretty inexpensive. Many doctors will order the test as part of your routine physical so insurance will pay for it. If you’re low, they will encourage you to take a supplement.

That’s where I’m a little wary of mainstream medicine again. Many consider a low level below 20 nanograms/milileter (ng/ml). When we work with A Mind for All Seasons and our residents who have dementia, we shoot for a 60-80 ng/ml level.

Here is an example of a report on one of our residents from A Mind for All Seasons:

Doctors will generally recommend supplements of 400-800 international units (IU’s) per day. We often give our residents 4,000-8,000 IU’s/day without a problem.

Of course this is my opinion and not medical advice!

We also feed them a lot of vitamin D-rich (not fortified) foods. And walk them outside in the sun. You might want to give vitamin D a try if you aren’t already?