A study released recently by researchers from University of Exeter (U of E) is believed to show the strongest link yet between vitamin D deficiency in adults and the likelihood of being diagnosed with dementia in later life, according to a reporting on the University of Exeter research news website.

The study, released this month, is being called the “most robust study of its kind ever conducted,” according to the report, and links vitamin D deficiency with as much as a 53% to 125% increased risk of developing dementia, depending on the severity of the deficiency.

While researches are pleased to find such strong correlation, they warn that their findings are too preliminary to argue that deficiency in vitamin D actually causes dementia.

The report from U of E notes that with more than 40 million cases of dementia in the world today, and with the expectations that the figure will rise rapidly as the global population ages, finding ways to prevent or delay the onset of dementia in as many cases as possible is of huge importance.

Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, is gained from exposing skin to sunlight, as well as from oily fish and supplements.

To read the original article on the U of E website, click here.