8 hours Ago By David Cox
The new shingles vaccine could help prevent cognitive decline , while statins and weight loss drugs may have similar protective effects. At times, getting older can feel like a never-ending list of health check-ups. Vaccines you’re now eligible for, screenings to arrange, and a firm suggestion from your GP to begin a new course of medication.
We’re often warned about the long-term effects of certain drugs, but there are some midlife jabs or pills which appear to have hidden protective qualities, especially for the brain. Take shingles vaccines for instance. A new study from Stanford University published in the renowned journal Nature, has discovered that being vaccinated in mid to later life against this painful viral rash prevents one in five new dementia cases over the next seven years, based on the examination of electronic health records.
The findings have caused such a stir that Dr Pascal Geldsetzer, the Stanford epidemiologist behind the study, told The Telegraph that he’s now seeking to raise funds from private foundations and philanthropists to conclusively test whether shingles vaccination can prevent cognitive decline in a clinical trial. “This is what we need to really convince the public health and medical community,” he says..
