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5/26/2009 3:57:45 PM - A study by University of Manchester scientists shows that higher levels of vitamin D — either synthesized in the skin following sun exposure or by consumption of certain foods like oily fish — are associated with improved cognitive function in middle-aged and older men.

Published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, the study compared cognitive performance of more than 3,000 European men between the ages of 40 and 79. The researchers found that men with higher levels of vitamin D performed consistently better in a simple and sensitive neuropsychological test that assesses an individual’s attention and speed of information processing.

“Previous studies exploring the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive performance in adults have produced inconsistent findings. But we observed a significant, independent association between a slower information processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D,” said lead author Dr. David Lee of the University of Manchester’s School of Translational Medicine.

“The main strengths of our study are that it is based on a large population sample and took into account potential interfering factors, such as depression, season and levels of physical activity,” Lee continued. “Interestingly, the association between increased vitamin D and faster information processing was more significant in men aged over 60 years, although the biological reasons for this remain unclear.”

Lee concluded that the positive effects of vitamin D on the brain need to be explored further but show potential benefit for minimizing age-related declines in cognitive performance.