Evaluation of cognitive subdomains, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the European Male Ageing Study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Although lower levels of vitamin D have been related to poor cognitive functioning and dementia in older adults, evidence from longitudinal investigations is inconsistent. The objective of this study was to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] levels are associated with specified measures of cognitive decline in ageing men.

METHODS:

The European Male Ageing Study (EMAS) followed 3369 men aged 40-79 over 4.4 years. 25(OH)D levels at baseline were measured by radioimmunoassay, and 1,25(OH)2D levels were obtained with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Visuoconstructional abilities, visual memory, and processing speed at baseline and follow-up were assessed using the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF), Camden Topographical Recognition Memory (CTRM), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).

RESULTS:

Following attritions, a total of 2430 men with a mean (SD) age of 59.0 (10.6) were included in the analyses. At baseline, the mean 25(OH)D concentration was 64.6 (31.5) nmol/l, and mean 1,25(OH)2D level was 59.6 (16.6) pmol/l. In age-adjusted linear regression models, high 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with a smaller decline in the DSST (β = 0.007, p = 0.020). Men with low 25(OH)D levels (<50 nmol/l) showed a greater decline in the CTRM compared to men with higher (≥75 nmol/l) levels (β = -0.41, p = 0.035). However, these associations disappeared after adjusting for confounders such as depressive symptoms, BMI, and comorbidities. There was no indication of a relationship between 1,25(OH)2D and decline in cognitive subdomains.

CONCLUSION:

We found no evidence for an independent association between 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D levels and visuoconstructional abilities, visual memory, or processing speed over on average 4.4 years in this sample of middle-aged and elderly European men.

• Authors: Margot J Overman, Neil Pendleton, Terence W O'Neill, Gyorgy Bartfai, Felipe F Casanueva, Joseph D Finn, Gianni Forti, Giulia Rastrelli, Aleksander Giwercman, Thang S Han, Ilpo T Huhtaniemi, Krzysztof Kula, Michael E J Lean, Margus Punab, David M Lee, Elon S Correa, Tomas Ahern, Sabine M P Verschueren, Leen Antonio, Evelien Gielen, Martin K Rutter, Dirk Vanderschueren, Frederick C W Wu, Jos Tournoy, EMAS Study Group
• Journal: European journal of nutrition (Eur J Nutr) Vol. 56 Issue 6 Pg. 2093-2103 (Sep 2017) ISSN: 1436-6215 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 27370643 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Vitamin D
• 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
• 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aging (drug effects)
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Cognitive Dysfunction (blood, diagnosis)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Health Behavior
• Humans
• Life Style
• Male
• Memory (drug effects)
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Vitamin D (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, blood)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (blood, complications)
• White People