Vitamin D and Neurodegenerative Diseases Such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A Review of Current Literature.

Abstract in brief

• This review discusses how Vitamin D3 and its derivatives may help prevent or slow neurodegenerative diseases like MS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and ALS by influencing brain health, immune responses, and cellular protection mechanisms beyond its traditional roles in calcium absorption.
• It highlights that active forms of Vitamin D are produced in the brain and act via the Vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is present in many brain regions, and that Vitamin D deficiency may worsen conditions by affecting processes like oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and cell death.
• The article emphasizes that both environmental factors (such as Vitamin D levels) and genetic factors contribute to neurodegenerative disease risk, and underscores the importance of understanding Vitamin D’s role to develop better prevention and treatment strategies based on clinical and experimental research.]