Background:
Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with brain changes, and cognitive and
mobility declines in older adults.
Method:
Two hundred and fifteen Caucasian older community-dwellers (mean±SD, 72.1±5.5years;
40% female) received a blood test and brain MRI. The thickness of perigenual anterior cingulate cortex,
midcingulate cortex and posterior cingulate cortex was measured using FreeSurfer from T1-weighted
MR images. Age, gender, education, BMI, mean arterial pressure, comorbidities, use of vitamin D supplements
or anti-vascular drugs, MMSE, GDS, IADL, serum calcium and vitamin B9 concentrations,
creatinine clearance were used as covariables.
Results:
Participants with vitamin D insufficiency (n=80) had thinner total cingulate thickness than the
others (24.6±1.9mm versus 25.3±1.4mm, P=0.001); a significant difference found for all 3 regions. Vitamin
D insufficiency was cross-sectionally associated with a decreased total cingulate thickness (β=-
0.49, P=0.028). Serum 25OHD concentration correlated positively with the thickness of perigenual anterior
(P=0.011), midcingulate (P=0.013) and posterior cingulate cortex (P=0.021).
Conclusion:
Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with thinner cingulate cortex in the studied sample
of older adults. These findings provide insight into the pathophysiology of cognitive and mobility declines
in older adults with vitamin D insufficiency.
Long-term Chinese calligraphic handwriting reshapes the posterior cingulate cortex: A VBM study
