Neurological symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several neuropsychiatric disorders and is believed to impact them through mechanisms such as neuronal apoptosis and the association with neurotrophic factors. Neuronal apoptosis is caused by the reduction of cytochrome C expression and the slowing of the neuron cell cycle, while neurotrophic factors are proteins that play a role in the growth and survival of neurons.

Lets take a closer look at the neurological symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency:

Alzheimers disease

Alzheimer's disease, which is known for the loss of cortical functions like language and motor skills, a shrinkage of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and an enlargement of the ventricles. Recent studies have found a connection between higher levels of vitamin D and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Parkinsons disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects movement and coordination, and is caused by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra, a brain region involved in functions such as reward, addiction, and movement coordination. Research suggests that low levels of vitamin D may play a role in Parkinson's disease, and in one study, taking vitamin D supplements led to a reduction in symptoms.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder marked by a disturbance in perceiving reality and thinking logically. The condition has both genetic and developmental causes. It is believed that vitamin D plays a role in brain development during pregnancy and its deficiency may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia.

Epilepsy and seizures

Seizures are disruptions in brain activity caused by abnormal neuron firing, while epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures. A study showed that taking vitamin D supplements was associated with a reduction in seizures, while placebo treatment did not have the same effect. Vitamin D plays a role in regulating both proconvulsant and anticonvulsant factors, and has been shown to increase the expression of calcium-binding proteins, which have anti-epileptic properties.

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system and causes damage to the myelin sheath, which is a fatty coating around nerve cells that facilitates the rapid transmission of nerve signals. In multiple sclerosis, the deterioration of the myelin sheath leads to a slowing of nerve signal transmission, resulting in serious motor problems.