New information about elderly individuals that get the shingles vaccine points to the idea that there may be a positive correlation between those that get the vaccine and having a lower risk of developing dementia as they age.
One of the big takeaways that the researchers wrote about in their study was the concept that dementia doesn’t need to be an inevitable part of the aging process. Rather, they state that dementia is caused by diseases, with Alzheimer’s being the most prevalent of these. Rather than write dementia off as just a natural part of aging, the team wanted to show that there might be things that can be done to help better prevent, treat, or even cure some forms of dementia.
The method that they highlighted in their study was the use of the shingles vaccine. The specific vaccine that was looked at was called Shingrix. A six year long study looked at two different populations of elderly folk. One population was given the Shingrix vaccine. This vaccine is considered to be “recombinant.” The other population was given the Zostavax, a vaccine that is considered to be “live.” The Shingrix population was 17 percent less likely to develop any form of dementia when compared to the Zostavax population.
Researchers have suspected that there is some sort of link between the herpes zoster virus and the onset of dementia. The team stated that they were unsure just what this connection might be or how it worked, but the fact that this correlation exists is encouraging.
The team published their findings in the journal, Nature Medicine. They did point out that a lot more research is needed here to more fully understand the relationship. If and when this relationship is better understood, there is more potential for future researchers to come up with better treatments for those struggling with or at risk of dementia.
To be clear, there are not viable cures for some forms of dementia at this time. Most notably, there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or lewy body dementia. But that doesn’t mean that these people don’t deserve high quality care or a better quality of life. Senior care hopes to establish this.
When an elderly individual has dementia, their whole life changes. Their ability to care for their own needs and daily life become diminished. At a certain point, they are no longer able to care for themselves safely. Professional level senior care can help to bridge this gap and ensure that your older loved ones suffering from dementia have the support and care that they need to stay as safe and healthy as possible as they age.
Memory care comes in a lot of different forms. If you’d like to learn more about how this might benefit your family, please feel free to get in touch with us. One of our professional caregivers would be happy to talk more with you, go over your unique set of circumstances, and point you toward the resources that will help you out the most.
If you’d like to learn more, please give us a call.
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