Recent research conducted by Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) and Duke University has associated low vitamin D levels with increased subsequent risk of cognitive decline and impairment in the Chinese elderly.

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Vitamin D deficiency can cause a slew of problems. Side effects of a vitamin D deficiency can include impaired immune function, decreased bone density, and depression. And now researchers have discovered that vitamin D is an essential vitamin for memory, too.

Here, we look at three benefits of vitamin D.

1. Low vitamin D is associated with poorer cognitive performance.

Several studies have found vitamin D levels to be associated with cognitive function. In fact, low levels of vitamin D seem to raise the risk for cognitive impairment in both younger and older adults, and people with low vitamin D show worsened performance on a variety of cognitive tasks.[1-3] Having a vitamin D deficiency might also cause your cognitive function to decline at a faster rate.

2. Cognitive function declines at a faster rate in those who have lower vitamin D levels.

Researchers from UC Davis and Rutgers University published a study in the journal JAMA Neurology in September 2015.[4] They looked at data from close to 400 men and women who had an average age of 75.

They found that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in people with dementia than they were in people who had either mild cognitive impairment or normal cognitive function.

But what was particularly interesting about the study was that the rate of decline in memory and other aspects of cognitive performance was faster in those people who had insufficient levels of vitamin D. In fact, over the five-year follow up, the rate of decline was two to three times faster in those we had low vitamin D compared to those who had sufficient levels.

Similar results were found in another study, where low levels of vitamin D were associated with greater decline in global cognitive function over time.[5]

3. Get adequate vitamin D to protect your brain.

Step 1. First, visit your doctor to have your current level tested. Ask for the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test (also called the 25-OH vitamin D test or Calcidiol 25-hydroxycholecalciferol test) to see if you have a vitamin D deficiency.

Step 2. If your level is below 50 ng/mL, begin taking a supplement. Most people can start with a daily dose of 2000 IU, but some people need as much as 5000 IU or more.

Step 3. Work with your doctor, who can monitor your levels through bloodwork and keep you in the optimal range of 50 to 100 ng/mL.

Step 4. Getting safe sun exposure is another great way to boost your vitamin D levels. Aim for 15 to 30 minutes of sun time daily, but be sure to get out of the sun or wear sunscreen before burning. Discover more ways to get enough vitamin D here.

Don’t let low vitamin D levels stand in the way of good health. Plenty of vitamin D will help protect against memory loss, keep your bones healthy, boost your energy, and promote longevity.

So get started in boosting your levels today.

Share Your Experience

Do you take this vitamin for memory? How much do you need in order to maintain adequate levels? Share your experience in the Comments section below.

[1] Eur J Neurol. 2015 Jan;22(1):106-15, e6-7.
[2] Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015 Aug 25;11:2217-23.>
[3] J Alzheimers Dis. 2015;45(4):1119-26.
[4] JAMA Neurol. 2015 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print]
[5] J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014 Apr;62(4):636-41.

Originally published in 2015, this post is regularly updated.