Now I'm starting to wonder if I'm one of those people who, in my efforts to prevent skin cancer, may have impaired my brain function because I have a deficiency of vitamin D.
This is the sunshine vitamin so called because it is synthesized in our skin when we are exposed to direct sunlight. My problem is I wear sunblock to prevent cancer and sunblock impedes this synthesizing process.
Vitamin D is well known for enhancing bone health and regulating some of the calcium levels, but recent research shows it does a lot more than that. Scientists now link this fat soluble nutrient to several functions throughout the body including working with your brain. For instance, it is now known that vitamin D activates and deactivates enzymes in the brain and may protect neurons and reduce inflammation.
As reported in the November/December 2009 of Scientific American Mind, one new European study showed that subjects, aged 65 and older, with lower vitamin D levels were twice as likely to be cognitively impaired compared to those with optimum levels of vitamin D. Another study with subjects, aged 40 to 79, showed that those people with lower vitamin D. levels processed information much slower regardless of their age.
This information is important because cognitive impairment is usually the first step before dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers interested in this topic are engaged in new research. As for me, I am trying to figure out what dosage is best. My doctor says 1000 to 2,000 IU daily, which is about the amount your body will synthesize with 15 to 30 minutes of sun exposure two or three times a week. Keep in mind, however, that skin color, where you live (the sun is less strong the more north you live) and how much of your skin is exposed all affect how much vitamin D you can produce.
A suggestion: talk to your doctor about how much vitamin D you need.
To your success at healthy aging.
Ruthan
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