A study published in Nature shows a connection between the shingles vaccine and delayed dementia symptoms. An Arizona Alzheimer’s specialist says the study’s results are noteworthy.
Dr. Jeremy Pruzin is a cognitive behaviorologist at the Banner Health Alzheimer’s Institute.
This study took advantage of using exact birthdates and eligibility of the vaccine to determine data.
“Those who received the vaccine had about a 20% lower chance of developing dementia. Which is a really large effect size,” Pruzin said. “And the way this study was done is really one of the most rigorous ways an epidemiologic study can be done."
This study was published by Nature. It took a population in Wales near the same age and eligibility status for the shingles vaccine.
“This particular study is well done and really rigorous and took advantage of a quirk in Wales,” Pruzin said.
Pruzin said there are growing studies in vaccinations and delayed dementia such as a tuberculosis vaccine.
“This BCG vaccine has that same effect of fine tuning the immune system,” Pruzin said. “It's more of an immune therapy opposed to a vaccine, causing these beneficial right sizing of the immune system that is potentially beneficial in diseases like dementia.”
Pruzin said what is good for the heart is good for the brain when seeking natural ways to delay dementia.
“The more things people can do to lower risk, the more things accumulate that have very little downsides, the better we are going to be in delaying dementia,” Pruzin said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct references to Dr. Jeremy Pruzin and the spelling of his name.
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