Going outside and getting sunlight is more important to our health than we thought. According to a study by Oscar Franco and the team he leads (BMJ, 2014), a low level of vitamin D in the blood, the substance produced by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight, could cause us to be more susceptible to die from diseases such as cancer and heart conditions . Vitamin D is also obtained from some foods that we eat in our daily diet such as fish or eggs.
According to the authors of the work, vitamin D levels would act as a kind of general barometer of health, although it is not clear if the level of vitamin D is the cause of diseases or if it is associated with other behaviors that are related to worse health like sedentary life or smoking. What it does seem is that vitamin D is related not only to physical health but also to our memory , as demonstrated by Wilson and his collaborators in an article published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2014). Research results revealed that a low vitamin D level is linked to poorer memory and lower overall cognitive functioning over time.
What can we do? Well, it seems clear that going outside often to the sunlight and maintaining a balanced diet are two options. The dose of vitamin supplement that could reduce cognitive decline is being studied, but while it is discovered, you can exercise your memory with fun games and hobbies that keep your brain young and healthy.
Marisa Fernández, Senior Neuropsychologist, Unobrain
