#102 Why Vitamin D Deficiency Accelerates Brain Aging

In this monologue podcast, Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses a new study indicating that vitamin D supplementation is associated with a 40% lower risk of dementia over a decade. She explains that vitamin D, which the body produces from sun exposure, converts into a steroid hormone that regulates numerous genes. Deficiency is widespread due to factors like sunscreen use, skin pigmentation, age, latitude, and body fat. The podcast explores various studies, including Mendelian randomization and fMRI analysis, which support the link between vitamin D and brain health, noting improvements in cognition and reduced amyloid beta pathology with supplementation. The recent study involving over 12,000 adults revealed that vitamin D supplementation was associated with greater dementia-free survival, particularly benefiting women and those with normal baseline cognitive function, while also offering some protection for ApoE4 carriers and individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Dr. Patrick recommends regular blood tests to monitor vitamin D levels and suggests supplementation to maintain levels between 30 to 60 nanograms per milliliter, highlighting vitamin D's role in amyloid beta removal, neuroinflammation reduction, neurotrophic factor upregulation, and oxidative stress decrease.