Brains with higher levels of vitamin D have better function, study says

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Brains that have higher levels of vitamin D show better cognitive function, a new study suggests. The study, conducted by researchers at Tufts University in the US, found that people who had higher levels of vitamin D in their brains had better cognitive function. Senior author Sarah Booth, director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre on Ageing at Tufts, said: “This research reinforces the importance of studying how food and nutrients create resilience to protect the ageing brain against diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias.” Previous studies have shown that vitamin D supports a number of bodily functions, including immune responses and maintaining healthy bones. High levels of vitamin D in four specific regions of the brain correlated with better cognitive function.