Vitamin D Levels and the Risk of Cognitive Decline in Chinese Elderly People: the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey
Open Access
- 12 July 2016
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A
- Vol. 71 (10), 1363-1368
- https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw128
Abstract
Vitamin D has a neuroprotective function, potentially important for the prevention of cognitive decline. Prospective studies from Western countries support an association between lower vitamin D level and future cognitive decline in elderly people. No prospective study has examined this association in Asia. This community-based cohort study of elderly people in China follows 1,202 cognitively intact adults aged ≥60 years for a mean duration of 2 years. Plasma vitamin D level was measured at the baseline. Cognitive state of participants was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cognitive impairment was defined as an MMSE score <18. Cognitive decline was defined as ≥3 points decline from baseline. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between quartiles of vitamin D levels with cognitive decline and incidence of cognitive impairment. Participants with low vitamin D level had an increased risk of cognitive decline. Compared with the highest quartile of vitamin D levels, the multivariable odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence interval) for cognitive decline were 2.1 (1.3–3.4) for the second highest quartile, 2.2 (1.4–3.6) for the third highest quartile, and 2.0 (1.2–3.3) for the lowest quartile. The multivariable ORs of incident cognitive impairment for the second highest, third highest, and lowest versus highest quartiles of vitamin D levels were 1.9 (0.9–4.1), 2.6 (1.2–5.6), and 3.2 (1.5–6.6), respectively. This first follow-up study of elderly people, including the oldest-old, in Asia shows that low vitamin D levels were associated with increased risk of subsequent cognitive decline and impairment.Keywords
Funding Information
- Singapore Ministry of Health
- National Medical Research Council (NMRC/STaR/0005/2009)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (71110107025, 71233001, 71490732, 81273160)
- United Nations Funds for Population Activities
- National Institute of Health
- National Institute of Aging (RO1AG023627)
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