A Routine Vaccine May Lower Dementia Risk by as Much as 20%
15 days ago
- #health-research
- #vaccines
- #dementia
- Vaccines prevent 3-5 million deaths annually from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, influenza, measles, and COVID-19.
- A 2025 study in Nature found the shingles vaccine may reduce dementia risk by 20%.
- Researchers used a policy change in Wales as a natural experiment to study vaccine effects.
- The shingles vaccine reduced dementia probability by one-fifth over seven years, with women benefiting more than men.
- Vaccines may offer broader therapeutic benefits beyond infectious disease prevention, possibly through trained immunity.
- Dementia risk is significant, with 42% lifetime risk after age 55, projected to double in the US by 2060.
- Past amyloid-focused Alzheimer's treatments have been disappointing, while vaccines show potential in reducing dementia risk.
- Scientists must remain open to unconventional approaches, like vaccines, for treating brain degenerative disorders.