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Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease
Eyles DW, Burne TH, McGrath JJ.. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 2012-07-11
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Increasingly vitamin D deficiency is being associated with a number of psychiatric conditions. In particular for disorders with a developmental basis, such as autistic spectrum disorder and schizophrenia the neurobiological plausibility of this association is strengthened by the preclinical data indicating vitamin D deficiency in early life affects neuronal differentiation, axonal connectivity, dopamine ontogeny and brain structure and function. More recently epidemiological associations have been made between low vitamin D and psychiatric disorders not typically associated with abnormalities in brain development such as depression and Alzheimer's disease. Once again the preclinical findings revealing that vitamin D can regulate catecholamine levels and protect against specific Alzheimer-like pathology increase the plausibility of this link. In this review we have attempted to integrate this clinical epidemiology with potential vitamin D-mediated basic mechanisms. Throughout the review we have highlighted areas where we think future research should focus.
Key findings
- Increasingly vitamin D deficiency is being associated with a number of psychiatric conditions.
- More recently epidemiological associations have been made between low vitamin D and psychiatric disorders not typically associated with abnormalities in brain development such as depression and Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
This review describes epidemiological links between low vitamin D and Alzheimer's disease, alongside preclinical findings that vitamin D can regulate catecholamine levels and protect against Alzheimer-like pathology. It highlights areas where future research should focus rather than reporting a treatment or prevention effect.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in neuroendocrinology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology: journal h-index 186 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 700 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 46.7 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 27.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 111 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author John Joseph McGrath: h-index 140 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | The University of Queensland: institution h-index 1,516 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22796576) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Eyles, D. W., Burne, T. H., & McGrath, J. J. (2013). Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2012.07.001
Vancouver
Eyles DW, Burne TH, McGrath JJ. Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology. 2013. doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2012.07.001. PMID: 22796576.
BibTeX
@article{eyles2013-22796576,
author = {Eyles, D. W. and Burne, T. H. and McGrath, J. J.},
title = {{Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease}},
journal = {Frontiers in neuroendocrinology},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1016/j.yfrne.2012.07.001},
pmid = {22796576},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2012.07.001}
}
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