title: Serum vitamin D concentrations are associated with falling and cognitive function in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the mechanism through which vitamin D is associated with decreased falls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a convenience sample from a larger observational study examining correlations between vitamin D and 1) falls, 2) motor function, and 3) cognition (n=159).
  
  
  METHODS
  Falls data were collected via weekly on-line surveys completed in the participants' homes. Yearly evaluations of motor and cognitive function were conducted in an out-patient setting of a large tertiary medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants from the Intelligent Systems for Assessment of Aging Changes Study (ISAAC), a community-based cohort study of independently living older adults over age 70, who had vitamin D concentration within 6 months of clinical evaluations were included in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants mean age was 85 years and 74% were women. Fallers (n=37) had significantly lower vitamin D concentration (32.9ng/ml) compared to non-fallers (39.2ng/ml) (p<0.01). The relationship between vitamin D and falls remained significant after adjusting for age, health status (via CIRS), and supplement use (p=0.004). Vitamin D concentration were significantly associated with cognitive impairment (Clinical Dementia Rating = 0.5) (p=0.02) and MMSE (p<0.01) after adjusting for age, gender, and education. Vitamin D concentrations did not correlate with any motor measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D concentrations correlated with cognition and falls, but not with motor measures. Further research is needed to demonstrate a causal relationship between vitamin D and cognitive function and determine if cognition plays a role in falls reduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University and Portland Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR 97239 USA. peterami@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mattek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clemons
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buracchio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D