Aging. The bane of many humans past a certain age, isn’t it?
It needn’t be with some helpful lifestyle adjustments like making sure your
vitamin D levels are proper. Spinal Care Clinic often coaches Burlington and Hamilton
patients on nutritional issues, especially the positives of vitamin D. Here we
are going to discuss the impact of vitamin D on aging issues like osteoporosis
and cognitive function – since osteoporosis and dementia commonly occur in
older folks - and even dementia.
First of all, vitamin D is a hormone. Did you know that? Most
Burlington and Hamilton folks wouldn’t. It’s called VITAMIN D, isn’t it? Yes, but
vitamin D is a hormone with a receptor on every cell of the body! Its
deficiency is linked to a multitude of issues ranging from osteoporosis and
osteopenia (which increases the risk of fracture) to MS, diabetes, cancer,
heart disease and dementia. (1)
It’s this link to dementia that Spinal Care Clinic wishes to
point out to our Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic clients. Burlington and Hamilton’s population grows like the
rest of the world, and the number of adults over 65 is going to more than
double between 2012 and 2060. (2) That means there is going to be much more
attention paid to issues related to aging like dementia and cognitive function.
What’s the link? Well, the answer involves the complex
neuronal make up of the brain. Disruption of neuronal integrity (primarily in
frontal regions of the brain) may lead to the loss of neuroprotective properties in cerebral
ischemia and vascular lesions which restrict blood flow, oxygen and glucose to
cells and contributes to memory issues. (3)
So why would your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor be
interested in dementia and cognitive decline? Physically frail patients often
also have cognitive problems and dementia and vice versa. (4) If frail, you are
more prone to fall. Falls lead to fractures. Spinal Care Clinic sees
Burlington and Hamilton patients with fractures due to falls due to osteoporosis. So
preventing dementia and cognitive decline is important to Spinal Care Clinic in
the overall chiropractic treatment plan.
Since bone and calcium metabolism disorders are closely linked with dementia and osteoporosis is a disease of bone and calcium
metabolism leading to fractures and falls, treating dementia patients for
osteoporosis is imperative. (5) Spinal Care Clinic diagnoses osteoporosis and
helps manage its risk factors in Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic patients with
dementia or not.
A side note: taking vitamin D may even be an independent
protecting factor in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. (6)
So vitamin D (along with calcium) supplementation is
obviously important for brain health. Research suggests a wide range of
supplementation doses. (7) The proper dose and vitamin D level is individually
dependent, so let’s have a discussion about
vitamin D at your next Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic appointment and ward off
dementia, osteoporosis, and related fractures as best we can! Contact
Spinal Care Clinic today.