Key Points

• While getting enough vitamin D key to maintaining mental health, there are several other ways through which exposure to sunlight can boost our mood and benefit our mind, besides those related to sun-induced vitamin D production; exposure to sunlight also promotes the production of beta-endorphins, nitric oxide, melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine – all of which play important roles in mood
• Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels has been associated with a lower risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, suicide risk, and cognitive disorders including dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
• One study found that participants receiving higher amounts of sun exposure had higher average mental state scores of cognitive function compared to participants in the medium or low exposure groups; this study concluded that long-term high sun exposure throughout life could reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in the later years of life