Midlife Vitamin D Linked to Lower Tau Burden
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- University of Galway researchers tracked 793 dementia‑free adults for 16 years, measuring midlife vitamin D and later brain tau and amyloid beta levels.
- Vitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL in midlife were associated with lower tau protein burden 16 years later, after adjusting for age, sex, and depression.
- American Academy of Neurology reported that vitamin D status showed no association with amyloid beta protein levels.
- Neurology Open Access published the findings on April 1, 2026, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
- Martin David Mulligan emphasized that higher midlife vitamin D may protect against tau deposits but called for further research.
Why it matters: Patients and clinicians gain a potential early‑intervention target, as higher midlife vitamin D is linked to lower tau burden, while individuals with low vitamin D remain at higher risk for tau accumulation, highlighting a modifiable factor in dementia risk for prevention.
