Debunking Concerns About Calcium Supplements and Dementia Risk

Recent research conducted by Edith Cowan University (ECU), along with Curtin University and the University of Western Australia, has provided reassuring evidence about the safety of calcium supplements for brain health in older women. Previously, some studies suggested a possible link between calcium supplementation and an increased risk of dementia, raising concerns among clinicians and patients. However, the new study, published in The Lancet Regional Health—Western Pacific, found no such association.

The investigation analyzed data from a comprehensive five-year randomized clinical trial involving 1,460 women aged 70 and above. Participants were divided into two groups, with one receiving calcium supplements and the other a placebo. Over a follow-up period that extended to an average of 14.5 years, results showed that calcium monotherapy did not elevate the long-term risk of developing dementia.

Lead researcher Ms. Negar Ghasemifard highlighted that calcium supplementation is commonly recommended to prevent osteoporosis—a condition affecting approximately 20% of women over 70—and is vital for bone health. The study’s findings provide important reassurance because previous observational studies had suggested potential detrimental effects on cognitive health. However, this controlled trial’s results suggest that calcium supplements, when used in older women, are unlikely to contribute to dementia risk.

Dr. Marc Sim emphasized that when adjusting for adherence to supplement use, dietary calcium intake, lifestyle factors, and genetic predispositions, the findings remained consistent. The study’s design, being a post-hoc analysis of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, allows a more accurate assessment of the potential risks compared to earlier observational studies, which can be prone to confounding factors.

Involving 730 women given calcium and another 730 receiving placebo over five years, the study’s long follow-up period strengthens the reliability of the results. Despite these encouraging findings, experts like Professor Simon Laws from ECU’s Center for Precision Health noted that further research is necessary, especially to understand if these results apply to other populations, including men or women who start supplementation earlier in life.

Dementia Australia’s Honorary Medical Advisor, Professor Blossom Stephan, also highlighted the importance of this research, stating that calcium’s critical role in various physiological functions, including bone health, is well established. These results help allay fears of long-term cognitive risks associated with calcium supplementation.

In summary, current evidence indicates that calcium supplements do not increase dementia risk in older women, offering reassurance to healthcare providers and patients alike and supporting the continued use of calcium as a preventive measure against osteoporosis without concerns over cognitive effects.

For more detailed information, refer to the study: Negar Ghasemifard et al., "Calcium supplementation and the risk of dementia in the Perth Longitudinal Study of Aging Women," The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, 2025. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101694].

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-debunking-link-calcium-supplements-dementia.html