A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has found a clear link between the lack of vitamin D and the development of dementia.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in a few foods such as oily fish.
It can also be found in a dietary supplement. However, people get most of their bodies' vitamin D from the sun, when their skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays.
But when people get older their skin can't produce the vitamin as efficiently and many elderly suffer from a vitamin D deficiency.
The study looked at 850 people aged 65 or older, who lived in Italy.
Noting the participants lifestyle, researchers found those who had low levels of vitamin D were 60 percent more likely to experience substantial mental decline and 31 percent were more likely to experience new problems with their mental health as they got older.
According to the study's investigators it is estimated that 1 billion people worldwide have insufficient levels of vitamin D.
Their finding, they said, should alert doctors to make sure their patients, especially those who are older, get the correct amount of vitamin D every day.
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