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The high dose flu vaccine recommended for people 65 and older may be tied to a reduced risk for Alzheimer\u2019s, new research says.<\/p>\n
Liz Hafalia\/S.F. ChronicleAdults 65 and older who received the high-dose flu vaccine had a 15% to 20% lower risk of developing Alzheimer\u2019s over about two years compared to those who got the standard-dose vaccine, according to a study of 165,000 people.The study adds to research suggesting some vaccines, including for shingles, may help lower dementia risk in older adults.Experts emphasize that all adults 65 and older should get a flu vaccine, regardless of the dose, to reduce flu-related illness and death.<\/p>\n
The high-dose flu vaccine recommended for older adults could come with a bonus, new research shows: It may help lower their Alzheimer\u2019s risk compared to the standard-dose flu vaccine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because immune function wanes with age, the high-dose flu vaccine\u00a0\u2014\u00a0which has four times the antigens contained in the standard-dose vaccine\u00a0\u2014\u00a0is recommended by the CDC<\/a> for all adults 65 and older, and experts say they should get it if it\u2019s available.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The study<\/a>, published this month in the journal Neurology, found that adults 65 and older who got the high-dose influenza vaccine had a roughly 15% to 20% lower risk for Alzheimer\u2019s over roughly two years compared to their peers who got the standard-dose vaccine.\u00a0<\/p>\n The findings are limited, and experts say it\u2019s too soon to recommend the high-dose shot for this purpose alone. But the study adds to the body of research suggesting that some vaccines\u00a0\u2014 particularly for shingles\u00a0\u2014 may help lower dementia risk, potentially by lowering overall inflammation in the body and brain.\u00a0<\/p>\n The study, led by researchers at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), included about 165,000 adults aged 65 and older. About 121,000 received the high-dose vaccine and 44,000 received the standard-dose vaccine between 2014 and 2019. They were followed for about three years after vaccination.<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Whether vaccines can reduce dementia risk\u00a0\u2014 in addition to their main function of protecting against infectious diseases\u00a0\u2014 is a topic of intense interest and research.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Several studies show that the shingles vaccine may help reduce dementia risk, including a Stanford-led study<\/a> published last year that found that older adults who got a shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia in the subsequent seven years than those who did not get the vaccine.\u00a0<\/p>\n