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Relationships between serum vitamin D levels, neuromuscular and neuropsychological function and falls in older men and women

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Abstract

Summary

Among 463 community dwellers aged 70–90 years, those with vitamin D insufficiency showed reduced neuromuscular function, balance control and stepping ability and performed worse in tests of cognitive function. In men, vitamin D insufficiency was associated with an increased risk of falling.

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (serum 25OHD) levels, physiological and neuropsychological function in older people, and to examine the relationship between serum 25OHD and prospective falls.

Methods

Four hundred sixty-three community-dwelling people aged 70–90 years underwent an assessment of physiological and neuropsychological performance and structured interviews relating to comorbidity and disability. Fall frequency during the 12 months follow-up was monitored with monthly falls diaries.

Results

Twenty-one percent of the men and 44% of the women were vitamin D insufficient (serum 25OHD ≤ 50 nmol/L). Participants with vitamin D insufficiency had weaker upper and lower limb strength, slower simple finger press and choice stepping reaction time, poorer leaning balance and slower gait speed, after controlling for age and body mass index, and, poorer executive function and visuospatial ability, after controlling for age and education. Vitamin D insufficiency significantly increased the rate of falls in men (IRR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.19–3.15, p = 0.008) but not in women.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the associations between vitamin D insufficiency and impairments in physiological and neuropsychological function that predispose older people to fall. The significant relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and falls found in the men may relate to the stronger association found between serum 25OHD levels and dynamic balance measures evident in this male population.

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Acknowledgements

This research was conducted as part of a study on Understanding Fear of Falling and Risk-Taking in Older People, which has been funded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Grant 400941. Professor Lord is currently a NHMRC senior principal research fellow. The participants in this study were drawn from the Memory and Ageing Study of the Brain and Ageing Program, School of Psychiatry, UNSW, funded by a NHMRC Program Grant (No. 350833) to Professors P. Sachdev, H. Brodaty and G. Andrews. We are grateful to the many researchers involved in this study.

Conflicts of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Falls and Balance Research Group, Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Sydney, Australia

    J. C. Menant, J. C. T. Close, K. Delbaere, D. L. Sturnieks & S. R. Lord

  2. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    J. C. Menant & S. R. Lord

  3. Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    J. C. T. Close

  4. Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    J. Trollor

  5. Brain and Ageing Research Program, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    J. Trollor, P. S. Sachdev & H. Brodaty

  6. Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, Australia

    P. S. Sachdev

  7. Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    P. S. Sachdev & H. Brodaty

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  1. J. C. Menant
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Correspondence to S. R. Lord.

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Menant, J.C., Close, J.C.T., Delbaere, K. et al. Relationships between serum vitamin D levels, neuromuscular and neuropsychological function and falls in older men and women. Osteoporos Int 23, 981–989 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1637-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1637-7

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