Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40690159›Full record

ArticleGeroScience2026

Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for cognitive decline in individuals aged 50 or older.

Natália Cochar-Soares, Thaís Barros Pereira da Silva, Mariane Marques Luiz, Patricia Silva Tofani, Maicon Luis Bicigo Delinocente, Roberta de Oliveira Máximo, Andrew Steptoe, Cesar de Oliveira, Tiago da Silva Alexandre

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in GeroScience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Natália Cochar-SoaresPostgraduate Program in Gerontology, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil.
Thaís Barros Pereira da SilvaPostgraduate Program in Gerontology, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil.
Mariane Marques LuizPostgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil.
Patricia Silva TofaniDepartment of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto, Brazil.
Maicon Luis Bicigo DelinocentePostgraduate Program in Gerontology, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil.
Roberta de Oliveira MáximoPostgraduate Program in Gerontology, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil.
Andrew SteptoeDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK.
Cesar de OliveiraDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
Tiago da Silva AlexandrePostgraduate Program in Gerontology, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil. tiagoalexandre@ufscar.br.ORCID 0000-0003-3791-9793

Funding

Project-001R01AG017644 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF LONDON INST OF NEUROLOGY · PI Andrew Steptoe · 2000 to 2026
$56.2M
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico 305338/2023-4Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior 88887.975898/2024-00Economic and Social Research Council ES/T008822/11Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo 2024/01918-6Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo 2024/08019-7NIA NIH HHS R01AG017644
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Longitudinal studies provide conflicting evidence regarding the impact of vitamin D deficiency on cognitive performance in older individuals. The present study aimed to investigate whether vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for poorer trajectories in global cognition and specific cognitive domains over a six-year follow-up period. This cohort study analysed data from 2625 participants aged 50 years or older from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Vitamin D [25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D] was classified as sufficient (> 75 nmol/L), insufficient (> 30 and ≤ 75 nmol/L), or deficient (≤ 30 nmol/L). Cognitive performance was assessed using the verbal fluency test, word list test, temporal orientation test, and global cognition, standardised in z-scores by age group and educational level. Generalised linear mixed models, adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioural, and clinical variables, estimated rates of decline in global cognition and cognitive domains based on vitamin D status. Participants with vitamin D deficiency showed greater declines in the z-score of global cognition (- 0.037 standard deviations (SD) per year; 95% CI: - 0.069 to - 0.005) and executive function (- 0.038 SD per year; 95% CI: - 0.071 to - 0.004) compared to those with sufficient vitamin D levels. No significant differences were observed in the trajectories of memory or temporal orientation in relation to vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for declines in global cognition and executive function in individuals aged 50 or older. The assessment and management of vitamin D levels may be crucial strategies for promoting cognitive health.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionVitamin D DeficiencyAgedAged, 80 and overCognitionExecutive FunctionFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsRisk FactorsVitamin D25-hydroxyvitamin DVitamin DAgeingCognitionEpidemiologyExecutive functionLongitudinal study

Identifiers

PMID40690159
PMCPMC12972389

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.