Another interesting study presented at the Alzheimer's meeting

M1

The papers are reporting today on evidence that the Shingrix vaccine lowers dementia risk. Interesting questions about infections playing a causative role over time. Makes me worry about the long-term covid risks too, we won't know the answer to that for decades.

SusanB-dil

I think that for the most part, we really just don't know. What little we know is helpful, for sure.

Most of us probably try to do the right things, as eat right and stay active… and then I guess we hope for the best. I'm all for almost anything that would lower the risk.

Guess I'm glad I got the shingrix.

GothicGremlin

I saw this as well. And like you, @SusanB-dil I'm glad I got the shingrix vaccine (although I wasn't so thrilled about it the day after I got the second dose). 🙂

Funny, my s.o. and I were discussing dementia risk factors and covid today. I told him I don't see myself going anywhere in public (except outside) without a mask on for the foreseeable future. I guess a positive side effect of my mask-wearing (and extra hand-washing) is that I haven't had a cold since 2019.

And I saw an article today on The Guardian describing a study that named 14 risk factors for dementia, and that almost half of all cases can be prevented or delayed. The study was published in the Lancet.

M1

There clearly is precedent for this, the 1918 flu epidemic caused a huge spike jn Parkinson's disease, with the connection recognized about thirty years later. No telling how many cases are related in non-pandemic times because there are too many other variables. But it is an argument for getting vaccinated. We'll be studying covid for years to come. And the chickenpox/shingles virus lives in nerve tissue, so it makes sense that there could be a connection.

MN Chickadee

I agree, I suspect we will be in for some unwelcomed (not) surprises when we see population wide data decades after covid. Lordy. We already knew we would have a long term care crisis with the population/demographic changes without that.

On another note, I didn't see a thread on this but maybe I missed it - there is new evidence that the GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy etc.) help with Alzheimers (slowed symptoms and brain shrinkage.) Presumably because they reduce inflammation. Some researchers believe this class of drugs will be the next frontier of discoveries for the dementia. As one researcher on it states, and supports your original topic, Alzheimer's is thought to be a result of a combination of issues - biological, toxic or infectious exposures. So I bet we will keep learning various drugs for other diseases affect it. God speed on the research. I get so excited every time I hear of a new study.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/ozempic-weight-loss-drugs-may-protect-alzheimers-rcna163459

dancsfo

Highlights of research advances at the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC)

https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2024/highlights-aaic-2024.asp