Overview
- The Neurology Open Access study, published Wednesday, tracked 793 adults with an average age of 39 and found that higher baseline vitamin D was tied to lower tau about 16 years later.
- Brain scans showed no relationship between midlife vitamin D and amyloid beta, another hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
- At the start, 34% of participants were below 30 ng/mL, the study’s cutoff for low vitamin D, and 5% reported taking supplements.
- The authors stressed the results show association rather than proof because vitamin D was measured once and other factors could still drive the link.
- Tau matters because its buildup tracks with nerve cell loss and cognitive decline, which is why a midlife factor that relates to lower tau could guide future prevention research.