Evaluation of cognitive subdomains, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the European Male Ageing Study

Overman, MJ; Pendleton, N; O’Neill, TW; Bartfai, G; Casanueva, FF; Finn, JD; Forti, G; Rastrelli, G; Giwercman, A; Han, TS; Huhtaniemi, IT; Kula, K; Lean, MEJ; Punab, M; Lee, DM; Correa, ES; Ahern, T; Verschueren, SMP; Antonio, L; Gielen, E; Rutter, MK; Vanderschueren, D; Wu, FCW; Tournoy, J

Abstract

PURPOSE:
Although lower levels of vitamin D have been related to poor cognitive functioning and dementia in older adults, evidence from longitudinal investigations is inconsistent. The objective of this study was to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] levels are associated with specified measures of cognitive decline in ageing men.

METHODS:
The European Male Ageing Study (EMAS) followed 3369 men aged 40-79 over 4.4 years. 25(OH)D levels at baseline were measured by radioimmunoassay, and 1,25(OH)2D levels were obtained with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Visuoconstructional abilities, visual memory, and processing speed at baseline and follow-up were assessed using the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF), Camden Topographical Recognition Memory (CTRM), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).

RESULTS:
Following attritions, a total of 2430 men with a mean (SD) age of 59.0 (10.6) were included in the analyses. At baseline, the mean 25(OH)D concentration was 64.6 (31.5) nmol/l, and mean 1,25(OH)2D level was 59.6 (16.6) pmol/l. In age-adjusted linear regression models, high 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with a smaller decline in the DSST (β = 0.007, p = 0.020). Men with low 25(OH)D levels (<50 nmol/l) showed a greater decline in the CTRM compared to men with higher (≥75 nmol/l) levels (β = -0.41, p = 0.035). However, these associations disappeared after adjusting for confounders such as depressive symptoms, BMI, and comorbidities. There was no indication of a relationship between 1,25(OH)2D and decline in cognitive subdomains.

CONCLUSION:
We found no evidence for an independent association between 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)2D levels and visuoconstructional abilities, visual memory, or processing speed over on average 4.4 years in this sample of middle-aged and elderly European men.

Citation

Overman, M., Pendleton, N., O’Neill, T., Bartfai, G., Casanueva, F., Finn, J., …Tournoy, J. (2016). Evaluation of cognitive subdomains, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the European Male Ageing Study. European Journal of Nutrition, 56(6), 2093-2103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1247-4

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 10, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jul 1, 2016
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 7, 2017
• Journal: European Journal of Nutrition
• Print ISSN: 1436-6207
• Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Volume: 56
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 2093-2103
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1247-4
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1247-4