Cognitive and neural correlates of vitamin D deficiency: Focus on healthy aging and Alzheimer’s disease

In this review, we discuss human and animal studies on how vitamin D deficiency can lead to brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Unlike other reviews in this area, we further discuss the neural and cognitive correlates associated with vitamin D deficiency, which eventually lead to several AD symptoms. In addition, we also discuss how some risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency such as vitamin D-deficient diets can lead to the development of AD. The effect of vitamin D supplements on cognition and brain function as well as potential treatment for AD is also discussed. We provide a road plan for future studies to further investigate the role of vitamin D deficiency and supplements on the brain and cognition in both healthy individuals and AD patients.