The journal Medical Xpress reports research at the University of Texas, Houston, which finds getting an annual flu shot protects people against developing Alzheimer's disease. The findings will appear in the Aug. 2 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. Hat tip to Instapundit for the link.
People who received at least one influenza vaccine were 40% less likely than their non-vaccinated peers to develop Alzheimer's disease over the course of four years, according to a new study from UTHealth Houston.
We found that flu vaccination in older adults reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease for several years. The strength of this protective effect increased with the number of years that a person received an annual flu vaccine—in other words, the rate of developing Alzheimer's was lowest among those who consistently received the flu vaccine every year. (emphasis added)
Since there is evidence that several vaccines may protect from Alzheimer's disease, we are thinking that it isn't a specific effect of the flu vaccine.
This side effect is very welcome. The DrsC have gotten annual flu shots for a couple of decades, and plan to continue. Paraphrasing the Bene Gesserit litany against fear, Alzheimer's is the mind-killer.
