Vitamin D3 supplementation reverses aging-related changes in cholinergic functions and improves spatial memory in aged rats

Abstract

Aim: Dietary intake and synthesis of vitamin D synthesis decline with age, increasing the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease development are closely linked to vitamin D deficiency. In this study, we investigated whether vitamin D supplementation could attenuate age-related effects on memory and the hippocampal cholinergic system in aged rats. Method: Thirty Wistar albino male rats (young: 4–5 months old, aged: 21–22 months old) were included in this study. Animals were divided into three groups: The Young control and the Aged control groups were administered physiological serum and the Aged + Vitamin D group was administered vitamin D (500 IU/kg/day). Spatial memory was assessed with the Morris Water Maze test. Then, ACh level and ChAT, AChE, and BChE enzyme activities in the hippocampus were examined. Results: Vitamin D supplementation given to aged rats increased the AchE and BuChE enzyme activities and ACh levels which decreased with aging. The activity of the ChAT enzyme did not change in the aged group, and vitamin D supplementation did not affect it. Increased hippocampal cholinergic transmission improved the spatial memory of aged rats in the MWM test. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation improved spatial memory in rats, probably by reversing the aging-related changes in brain cholinergic functions. Vitamin D shows promise in delaying cognitive decline associated with aging and AD.