Vitamin D and your Elder

There has been more and more evidence from research lately about Vitamin D levels and good health. This recent article (click on the title of this post to be directed to the article) talks about cognitive function and vitamin D levels. Elders with low levels of Vitamin D can experience worsening cognitive problems. So, if your Elder already suffers with dementia, a low Vitamin D level can make it worse. And even if your Elder does not have dementia, adequate levels of Vitamin D can promote good memory and cognitive function as well as prevent cancer and promote cardiovascular health.

To find out whether this is a problem for your Elder, just ask his/her physician to do a blood test for a Vitamin D level. A level below "25" is considered a deficiency.

Or, you can give your Elder a supplement pill with Vitamin D. If you choose a supplement with more than 400 units of Vitamin D, make sure to talk to your Elders physician about it first. But, more and more, people are being informed by their physicians that they should be taking up to 1000 units per day.

Normally, we get Vitamin D from sun exposure on bare skin. Your body will manufacture Vitamin D with only 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen). However, Elders have a diminshed ability to produce Vitamin D that gets worse with increasing age. So, most Elders will need a Vitamin D supplement.

Just a small thing that, hopefully, can help you and your Elder have more Pleasant Days.

( Clicking the picture will take you to the publisher's page and photo on Flickr)