The study from the USA has shown that routine vaccinations can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. The study included two groups of subjects over 65 years of age, one of whom was vaccinated and the other not. The vaccinated group received at least one vaccination against tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, shingles or pneumococcus. Over a period of eight years, it was observed that those who had received at least one of these vaccinations were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who were not vaccinated.
The risk reduction varied depending on the vaccination. Among those vaccinated against tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, the risk of Alzheimer’s was 7.2 percent compared to 10.2 percent among those not vaccinated. Among those vaccinated against shingles, the risk was 8.1 percent compared to 10.7 percent among those not vaccinated. And among those vaccinated against pneumococcus, the risk was 7.92 percent compared to 10.9 percent among those not vaccinated. Similar results were found for the flu vaccine in an earlier study.
Peter Berlit, Secretary General of the German Society of Neurology (DGN), commented on the results and emphasized that the risk reduction of 25 to 30 percent was significant. Although it was a retrospective evaluation, the study sends a serious signal that routine vaccinations can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.