Now that we are about 1/2 way through winter here in the Northern Hemisphere the lack of sunlight is starting to take it’s toll on all of us.

Depression, (Or “Cabin Fever” as it’s sometimes known) is on the rise and has shown to be directly related to how much sunshine we get each day. (Vitamin “D”)

Naturally we get less of it during the darker winter months than in the summer.

As well as fighting depression, researchers from the Peninsula Medical School, the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan, have for the first time identified a relationship between Vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin”, and cognitive impairment in a large-scale study of older people.

(We are all slowly becoming “older people” so this message is for all of us!)

The importance of these findings lies in the connection between cognitive function and dementia: people who have impaired cognitive function are more likely to develop dementia.

The study was based on data on almost 2000 adults aged 60 and over (The leading edge of the boomers!) who participated in the Health Survey for England in 2000 and whose levels of cognitive function were assessed.

The study found that as levels of Vitamin D went down, levels of cognitive impairment went up.

Compared to those with optimum levels of Vitamin D, those with the lowest levels were more than twice as likely to be cognitively impaired.

Vitamin D is important in maintaining bone health, in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and in helping our immune system. In humans, Vitamin D comes from three main sources – exposure to sunlight, foods such as oily fish, and foods that are fortified with vitamin D.

(Such as milk, cereals, and soy drinks, and of course, in pill form)

One problem faced by older people is that the capacity of the skin to absorb Vitamin D from sunlight decreases as the body ages, so they are more reliant on obtaining Vitamin D from other sources.

Remember, keep your wits about you............ get your daily dose of milk!

Allan W Janssen is the author of the book The Plain Truth About God (What the mainstream religions don’t want you to know!) and is available as an E-Book H E R E ! and as a paperback H E R E !

Visit the blog “Perspective” at http://allans-perspective.blogspot.com