Vitamin D and Brain Health: A Bigger Boost for Women?
- Arielle Leader, RMT, ND
- Sep 5, 2025
- 3 min read
We all know vitamin D is important for strong bones, but it might also play a surprising role in keeping your brain sharp — especially if you're a woman.
A recent study presented at the 2025 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting found that women with higher levels of vitamin D had better memory and larger brain structures in areas linked to thinking and memory. Interestingly, the same effect wasn’t seen in men.
What the Study Found
Researchers looked at over 1,100 people between the ages of 36 and 102. About 57% of them were women. Participants took memory tests, gave blood samples, and had MRI scans to look at brain structure. Scientists divided them into two age groups: under 65 and 65 and older.
The key finding? Women with more vitamin D in their blood scored better on memory tests and had more volume in specific brain areas — like the putamen and pallidum, which are involved in memory, learning, and movement. There was even a trend suggesting that vitamin D may benefit the thalamus, another brain region that helps relay information.
For men, however, higher vitamin D levels weren’t linked to better memory — and in some cases, were associated with smaller volumes in those brain regions.
Why Might Vitamin D Help the Brain?
Vitamin D isn’t just about bones — it also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that may protect brain cells. It may help remove amyloid, a sticky protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and support telomeres, the protective caps on our DNA that shorten with age. Shorter telomeres have been linked to brain aging and diseases like dementia.
Since women are more likely to develop dementia (in part because they live longer), this research highlights a potentially important piece of the brain health puzzle.
How to Know if You’re Getting Enough
The only way to know your vitamin D status is through a blood test. A naturopathic doctor (ND) can order this test and help interpret your results in the context of your overall health and lifestyle.
Vitamin D deficiency is very common, especially in Canada and northern climates where we get less sunlight year-round.
If your levels are low, treatment options include:
Oral supplements — usually in the form of D3 drops or capsules
Vitamin D injections — helpful if absorption is a concern, or for faster correction
Diet and sunlight — though it’s hard to reach optimal levels through food and sun alone, especially in winter
Naturopathic doctors are trained to monitor vitamin D levels over time to avoid both deficiency and overdose. High doses without supervision can lead to problems like kidney stones, so it’s best to work with a qualified healthcare provider.
The Takeaway
Vitamin D may support brain health — especially in women.
Higher vitamin D levels were linked to better memory and brain volume in women.
Getting your vitamin D levels tested is the best way to know if you need more.
Treatment options, including supplements or injections, should be guided by a healthcare provider like an ND.
As researchers learn more about how vitamin D affects the brain, this nutrient may become an important tool in supporting memory and cognitive health — especially as we age.
Dr. Arielle Leader, ND
Naturopathic Doctor | Skin, Gut & Hormone Health
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