Flu vaccination tied to significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s

People who get at least one influenza vaccine may be 40% less likely than non-vaccinated people to develop Alzheimer's disease.

A new study expands on earlier research conducted by UTHealth Houston that suggested a link between the flu vaccine and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The latest research analyzed a large sample: 935,887 flu-vaccinated patients and 935,887 non-vaccinated patients.

Participants were assessed for four years. About 5.1% of flu-vaccinated patients developed Alzheimer’s disease while 8.5% of non-vaccinated patients did.

“Flu vaccination in older adults reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease for several years,” the study’s first author Dr. Avram S. Bukhbinder, told the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. “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.”

The study is the latest to show a link between vaccinations and mental health. Previous research suggests that seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

About 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease – and the number may nearly triple by 2060, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the study’s findings about preventing Alzheimer’s disease are encouraging, don’t get too excited that they will lead to a cure for Alzheimer’s disease any time soon.

First, researchers needs to understand whether the links are actually causative: Do these vaccines actually reduce a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease – or is that an unintended consequence of not getting the flu or pneumonia?

Second, we need to appreciate the fact that we have precious little understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. Over decades, literally hundreds of studies have been done and billions of dollars invested in the search for therapies to treat this common condition. So far, nothing has delivered the long hoped-for cure.

Methuselah Foundation believes in supporting novel ways to tackle the age-diseases that are the most common cause of death in the elderly.

In 2015, we were impressed by the work Leucadia Therapeutics was doing in its search for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Previous research suggested that plaques and tangles in the brain cause the condition. Leucadia’s research found the plaques and tangles result from a more serious, underlying condition: the collection of toxic metabolites in regions of the brain affected earliest by the disease.

The company is developing a therapeutic device to restore cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow across the cribriform plate, to improve the clearance of these toxic metabolites. The first goal is to cure mild cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

We’re excited about the promise of Leucadia’s device, but we also recognize the importance of preventing Alzheimer’s disease.  

If getting a flu shot improves your odds, do it. At worst, the vaccination will keep you healthier next flu season.