Alzheimer’s disease remains the most prevalent form of dementia, primarily impacting individuals over the age of 65. Symptoms gradually emerge over several years, and while certain treatments can help alleviate these symptoms, they do not halt the progression of the disease itself.
Research efforts continue to explore the triggers behind the harmful protein build-up in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s. A recent study suggests that routine vaccinations might play a role, with some high-dose vaccinations potentially offering several years of protection. Published in the journal Neurology, the study indicates that receiving high doses of the influenza vaccine after age 65 is associated with a “significantly lower” risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to those who get the standard vaccine dose.
The study found that this protective effect could last up to 25 months post-vaccination, with women benefiting from an even longer reduced risk compared to men. Involving 164,797 participants aged over 65 with no prior cognitive impairment, the researchers tracked these individuals for up to three years following their flu vaccinations.
Of the participants, 120,775 received the high-dose vaccine, while 44,022 were administered the standard dose. Despite these findings, the researchers acknowledged certain limitations in their study, such as the absence of comprehensive sociodemographic, lifestyle, biomarker, and mortality data.
Researchers emphasized the need for future studies to determine if this observed difference indicates that protection against influenza could be a mechanism affecting Alzheimer’s. Past research, presented at the 2020 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, suggested that flu and pneumonia vaccinations might help reduce dementia cases.
Additionally, the conference highlighted research indicating that individuals with dementia who were hospitalized due to an infection had a six and a half times higher risk of dying within a month compared to those without dementia. As a progressive form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease leads to symptoms that worsen over time.
Early symptoms may even be difficult to spot at first. Alzheimer’s Research UK notes some of the earliest signs can include simple things like becoming more repetitive, regularly forgetting recent events, names or other information and problems finding the right words.
Some people may develop a low mood or become anxious or agitated as the disease progresses while others may lose their confidence or have less interest in the things happening around them. The charity notes: “No two people experience dementia the same. If you are worried about any of the symptoms mentioned on this page, talk to your doctor.”
