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The journal of nutrition, health & aging
Published in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging 8/2019

01-08-2019 | Dementia

Higher Vitamin D Levels are Associated with Better Attentional Functions: Data from the NorCog Register

Authors: J. Zugic Soares, R. Pettersen, J. Saltyte Benth, A. B. Knapskog, G. Selbæk, N. Bogdanovic

Published in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging | Issue 8/2019

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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate which cognitive domains are mostly affected in persons with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, defined as 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l and < 25 nmol/l, respectively.

Methods

Data were collected from the Norwegian register for persons assessed for cognitive symptoms (NorCog). 580 persons aged ≥ 65 years were included. The following cognitive and neuropsychiatric tests were used: Mini Mental State Examination, Norwegian Revised Version (MMSE-NR), the Clock Drawing test, the Trail Making Test A and B, the 10-word memory test and the figure copying test from CERAD — immediate and delayed recall, The Controlled Oral Word Association Test -FAS and Boston Naming test. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed by Neuropsychiatric Inventory—Questionnaire and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia.

Results

Vitamin D-insufficiency was found in approx. 30 % of the study cohort. After adjustment for relevant covariates, higher serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with higher score on MMSE-NR (p=0.032) and 10-word Memory Test, immediate recall (p=0.038), as well as faster execution of Trail Making Test A and B (p=0.038 and p=0.021, respectively). Other tests were not significantly associated with 25(OH)D levels.

Conclusion

Higher vitamin D levels appear to be associated with better cognition, especially in areas of executive function and mental flexibility.
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Metadata
Title
Higher Vitamin D Levels are Associated with Better Attentional Functions: Data from the NorCog Register
Authors
J. Zugic Soares
R. Pettersen
J. Saltyte Benth
A. B. Knapskog
G. Selbæk
N. Bogdanovic
Publication date
01-08-2019
Publisher
Springer Paris
Published in
The journal of nutrition, health & aging / Issue 8/2019
Print ISSN: 1279-7707
Electronic ISSN: 1760-4788
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1220-z

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