Abstract
High serum calcium levels have been associated with cognitive decline in older adults. These associations have not been studied in younger adults. The possible association of vitamin D with cognitive function, independent of calcium, is unknown. A cross-sectional study of associations of serum ionized calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with cognitive function in younger adults (20-59 years) and older adults (60-90 years) was conducted using data from the US third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Neither serum ionized calcium nor 25-hydroxyvitamin D was associated with cognitive function in either age group. For example, the confounder-adjusted mean difference in reaction time in young adults was 0.00 (95% confidence interval = -0.07 to 0.06) per 1 SD calcium. Our results do not support an important role for calcium or vitamin D in cognitive performance in adults.
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