Let the sun shine in for brain power

IMPROVING your mind could be as simple as gaining a daily dose of sunlight, a study says.

Australian researchers found older women with adequate vitamin D levels had better attention, cognitive flexibility and working memory.

Dr Alicia Goodwill, from the University of Melbourne, studied participants aged 55-67 to investigate the association between midlife vitamin D and cognition in women.

The 10-year observational study, published in Maturitas, found middle-aged women who had vitamin D levels of more than 25 nanomoles per litre had better executive brain function.

It also identified a potential midlife window where ideal levels of vitamin D could pro- tect against some types of cognitive decline.

Memory did not appear to be affected by vitamin D levels in the study.

This was because the women studied were middle aged and decline in memory was generally not detectable until women reached their 70s, Dr Goodwill said.

Other research has identified type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, depression, physical inactivity and low cognitive stimulation or low education as dementia risk factors.

She said vitamin D had emerged as a prevention measure.

“We’re not saying it’s a magic bullet or the magic sunshine. It’s one potential factor.”

Lifestyles that involve long hours indoors working at desks, plenty of screen time and less active transport make it hard to get adequate vitamin D from the sun.

Several studies have found many Australians are deficient in vitamin D, particularly coming out of winter months. Exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer so it is important not to overdo it.

Only a few minutes of sun a day is required to get enough vitamin D.

Dr Goodwill said combining small amounts of sunshine with light exercise was an effective way to obtain sufficient amounts of vitamin D.