Brain Sci. 2022 Jun; 12(6): 790.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci12060790
Michela Barichella,1,2,† Federica Garrì,2,*† Serena Caronni,2 Carlotta Bolliri,2 Luciano Zocchi,3 Maria Carmela Macchione,2 Valentina Ferri,2 Daniela Calandrella,2 and Gianni Pezzoli2
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex and progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by resting tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability. Furthermore, PD is associated with a wide spectrum of non-motor symptoms that add to overall disability. In recent years, some investigations, from basic science to clinical applications, have focused on the role of vitamin D in PD, often with controversial findings. Vitamin D has widespread effects on several biological processes in the central nervous system, including neurotransmission in dopaminergic neural circuits. Various studies have recorded lower levels of vitamin D in PD patients than in healthy controls. Low vitamin D status has also been correlated with the risk for PD and motor severity, whereas less is known about the effects vitamin D has on cognitive function and other non-motor symptoms. This review aims to better characterize the correlation between vitamin D and PD, clarify the role of vitamin D in PD prevention and treatment, and discuss avenues for future research in this field.
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