Does a flu vaccine protect against dementia?

There is growing research suggesting that a flu vaccine may have a protective effect against dementia, but the exact relationship is not fully understood.

Several studies have shown that people who get regular flu shots may have a lower risk of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers suspect that this may be due to the following factors.

Chronic inflammation plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Vaccinations such as the flu vaccine can reduce the overall inflammatory response in the body, which may also help protect the brain. People who get vaccinated tend to have better access to healthcare and healthier lifestyles, which may indirectly contribute to a lower risk of dementia.

While the results are promising, researchers stress that there is no conclusive evidence yet to show that flu vaccines can directly prevent dementia. It is possible that people who get the flu shot also have other behaviors that contribute to a lower risk of dementia, such as regular health checks and healthier lifestyles.

The flu vaccine is not currently specifically recommended to prevent dementia, but some studies suggest that it may have an indirect protective effect. On the other hand, there are also studies that show that the risk of dementia increases due to vaccinations.

Source: https://www.discoverymedicine.com/Steven-Lehrer/2022/10/vaccination-reduces-risk-alzheimers-disease-parkinsons-disease-neurodegeneration/

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-09-13 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024