Vitamin D and cognitive function: A Mendelian randomisation study
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Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The causal nature of the association between hypovitaminosis D and poor cognitive function in mid-to
later-life is uncertain. Using a Mendelian randomisation(MR) approach, we examined the causal
relationship between 25(OH)D and cognitive function. Data came from 172,349 participants from 17
cohorts. DHCR7(rs12785878), CYP2R1 rs12794714) and their combined synthesis score were chosen
to proxy 25(OH)D. Cognitive tests were standardised into global and memory scores. Analyses were
stratifed by 25(OH)D tertiles, sex and age. Random efects meta-analyses assessed associations
between 25(OH)D and cognitive function. Associations of serum 25(OH)D with global and memoryrelated
cognitive function were non-linear (lower cognitive scores for both low and high 25(OH)D,
pcurvature≤0.006), with much of the curvature attributed to a single study. DHCR7, CYP2R1, and the
synthesis score were associated with small reductions in 25(OH)D per vitamin D-decreasing allele.
However, coefcients for associations with global or memory-related cognitive function were nonsignifcant
and in opposing directions for DHCR7 and CYP2R1, with no overall association observed
for the synthesis score. Coefcients for the synthesis score and global and memory cognition were
similar when stratifed by 25(OH)D tertiles, sex and age. We found no evidence for serum 25(OH)D
concentration as a causal factor for cognitive performance in mid-to later life.
later-life is uncertain. Using a Mendelian randomisation(MR) approach, we examined the causal
relationship between 25(OH)D and cognitive function. Data came from 172,349 participants from 17
cohorts. DHCR7(rs12785878), CYP2R1 rs12794714) and their combined synthesis score were chosen
to proxy 25(OH)D. Cognitive tests were standardised into global and memory scores. Analyses were
stratifed by 25(OH)D tertiles, sex and age. Random efects meta-analyses assessed associations
between 25(OH)D and cognitive function. Associations of serum 25(OH)D with global and memoryrelated
cognitive function were non-linear (lower cognitive scores for both low and high 25(OH)D,
pcurvature≤0.006), with much of the curvature attributed to a single study. DHCR7, CYP2R1, and the
synthesis score were associated with small reductions in 25(OH)D per vitamin D-decreasing allele.
However, coefcients for associations with global or memory-related cognitive function were nonsignifcant
and in opposing directions for DHCR7 and CYP2R1, with no overall association observed
for the synthesis score. Coefcients for the synthesis score and global and memory cognition were
similar when stratifed by 25(OH)D tertiles, sex and age. We found no evidence for serum 25(OH)D
concentration as a causal factor for cognitive performance in mid-to later life.
Date Issued
2017-10-16
Date Acceptance
2017-09-19
Citation
Scientific Reports, 2017, 7
ISSN
2045-2322
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Journal / Book Title
Scientific Reports
Volume
7
Copyright Statement
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
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copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
© The Author(s) 2017
License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or
format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative
Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Te images or other third party material in this
article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the
material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted
by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the
copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
© The Author(s) 2017
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Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
D DEFICIENCY
D SUPPLEMENTATION
METAANALYSIS
DEMENTIA
MICE
RECOMMENDATIONS
DETERMINANTS
ASSOCIATION
PERFORMANCE
IMPAIRMENT
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
13230