NIN Hyderabad Study Links Vitamin Deficiencies to Higher Dementia Risk
On June 8, 2026, a landmark study by the Hyderabad-based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) revealed that nearly 40 percent of surveyed middle-aged and older adults in Telangana face a higher risk of dementia due to micronutrient deficiencies and low dietary diversity. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health in the USA and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, established a direct link between cognitive decline and low levels of vitamins D and B.
The community-based cross-sectional study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, analyzed 570 adults aged between 40 and 80 years from both rural and urban areas of Telangana.
Researchers used a culturally adopted dementia risk assessment tool, modifying the widely used Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Ageing and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) score, to assess how micronutrient profiles relate to dementia risk.
According to the findings, individuals categorized in the higher-risk group demonstrated significantly poorer nutritional status. Deficiencies in vitamins D, B2, B6, and B12 were markedly more prevalent among those with higher dementia risk scores.
The study also found that participants with a higher risk of dementia had lower dietary diversity, consumed more saturated fats, and had a lower intake of unsaturated fats.
Furthermore, the researchers observed that vitamin deficiencies were more common among rural participants than urban ones, highlighting specific rural vulnerabilities that could contribute to an increased risk of dementia. Conversely, diets rich in micronutrients, particularly fruits and vegetables, were associated with a lower burden of dementia risk factors.
Dr. G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, Scientist G at ICMR-NIN and the lead investigator of the study, stated that the findings highlight how closely micronutrient status is linked with the burden of dementia risk factors among Indian adults. He emphasized that nutrition, especially micronutrient adequacy and dietary diversity, represents a modifiable factor that can be targeted through public health interventions.
Dr. Bharati Kulkarni, Director of ICMR-NIN, added that the study provides important evidence that nutritional factors, particularly micronutrient status, should be integrated into future dementia prevention strategies.
