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Cognitive Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study on Serum Vitamin D and Its Interplay With Glucose Homeostasis in Dutch Older Adults

  • EM Brouwer-Brolsma
  • , RAM Dhonukshe-Rutten
  • , JP Wijngaarden
  • , NL van der Zwaluw
  • , PH in 't Veld
  • , S Wins
  • , KMA Swart
  • , Anke Enneman
  • , Annelies Ham
  • , Suzanne Boon - van Dijk
  • , NM Schoor
  • , Nathalie van der Velde
  • , André Uitterlinden
  • , P Lips
  • , RPC Kessels
  • , WT Steegenga
  • , EJM Feskens
  • , LCPGM (Lisette) de Groot
  • External organisation

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: First, the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) and cognitive performance was examined. Second, we assessed whether there was evidence for an interplay between 25(OH) D and glucose homeostasis in the association with cognitive performance. Design, Setting, and Participants: Associations were studied using cross-sectional data of 776 (3 domains) up to 2722 (1 domain) Dutch community-dwelling older adults, aged 65 years or older. Measurements: Serum 25(OH) D, plasma glucose, and insulin concentrations were obtained. Cognitive performance was assessed with an extensive cognitive test battery. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated to quantify the association between 25(OH) D and cognition; poor performance was defined as the worst 10% of the distribution of the cognitive scores. Results: The overall median MMSE score was 29 (IQR 28-30). Higher serum 25(OH) D was associated with better attention and working memory, PR 0.50 (95% CI 0.29-0.84) for the third serum 25(OH) D tertile, indicating a 50% lower probability of being a poor performer than participants in the lowest tertile. Beneficial trends were shown for 25(OH) D with executive function and episodic memory. Serum 25(OH) D was not associated with plasma glucose or insulin. Plasma insulin only modified the association between serum 25(OH) D and executive function (P for interaction: .001), suggesting that the improvement in executive function with high 25(OH) D concentrations is stronger in participants with high plasma insulin concentrations compared with those with low plasma insulin concentrations. Conclusion: Higher 25(OH) D concentrations significantly associated with better attention and working memory performance. This study does not demonstrate an interplay between serum 25(OH) D and glucose homeostasis in the association with cognitive performance. (C) 2015 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)621-627
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association
Volume16
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Research programs

  • EMC MM-01-39-09-A
  • EMC OR-01-39-08

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