Daily 2p pill can reduce risk of developing dementia, claims health expert
It's a sad fact that one in 11 people over the age of 65 have in the UK - and that number is only increasing as people live longer.
But now an expert has revealed that a 2p pill could help dramatically reduce the risk of it developing. Appearing on Dr Michael Mosley's BBC podcast, Just One Thing, Dr David Llewellyn from the University of Exeter revealed that a deficiency in vitamin D can more than double the chances of dementia.
Dr Llewellyn cited his own research, in which 1,600 participants from the US were followed over a number of years. The findings showed that those deficient in vitamin D had a more than 50 per cent greater risk of dementia, and those with a "severe deficiency" had a huge 125 per cent increased risk.
He told Dr Mosely: "For the first time we had really high quality information about whether they developed Alzheimer's disease or dementia over a number of years, and if you had deficiency, it was just over 50 per cent higher. And we found, incredibly, that the risk of developing dementia if you had severe deficiency, was more than doubled. It was about 125 per cent higher risk, if you were severely deficient. So it's the first compelling evidence to link low levels of vitamin D in the blood to an increased risk of dementia."
Dr Llewellyn continued: "The best evidence that we have comes from genetics studies. "Where people whose own genetic profile leads them to have higher levels of vitamin D, they seem to have a lower risk of developing dementia so that's quite convincing.
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"But it's not the same as a trial, showing that if you give people vitamin D supplements, for example, that that actually reduces their dementia risk." If you wanted to try adding a daily vitamin D supplement to your diet it could cost you less than 3p a day. currently sells 120 tablets of strength 400IU for £2.99, making them just 2.4p each.
It comes after Dr Mosley told his podcast listeners that drinking green tea could bring a whole host of health benefits, including protecting against dementia. He said: "There is one hot beverage that seems to have the edge especially when it comes to your brain health.
"[Green tea] takes a bit of getting used to but that taste is actually the polyphenols in the tea which potentially boast some extra health perks, such as burning more fat when you exercise, boosting your mood and lowering your risk for heart disease and dementia."
Regular consumption of green tea could also support bone health, reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol. And when it comes to lowering the risk of Alzheimer's, the 's Society reminds us staying active, exercising your mind, and maintaining social activity are superb ways to safeguard against dementia.
If you have any concerns about your health, speak to your GP.
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