Flu jab could cut risk of dementia by a fifth

Government to double vaccinations in England to protect NHS against surge during Covid pandemic

The flu jab could cut the risk of dementia by 17 per cent, according to a study from the University of Texas that suggests vaccinating younger people could be beneficial. The Alzheimer’s Association international conference also heard research from Copenhagen University suggesting that infections in those with dementia could increase the risk of death almost seven-fold. It comes as England plans to double its flu vaccinations roll-out, offering 30million people the jab this winter.

THE flu jab could cut the risk of dementia by almost a fifth, according to a study that suggests vaccinating younger people could be beneficial.

Research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association international conference suggests that infections in those with dementia could increase the risk of death almost seven-fold. And a study from the University of Texas suggests that the jab could cut the chance of developing the condition by 17 per cent.

The study of 9,000 people found the protective association between the flu vaccine and the risk of Alzheimer’s was strongest for those who received their first vaccine at a younger age – with those who received their first documented flu shot at age 60 benefited more than those who received their first flu shot at age 70.

It was presented alongside research by the University of Copenhagen, involving 1.5million people, which suggests that those with dementia have 6.5-fold risk of dying after any infection. The online conference came as Britain rolls out its most comprehensive flu vaccination programme.

More than half the population of England will be offered free jabs, to ensure the NHS can cope if there is a second wave of coronavirus.

Health officials are now in talks about how to ensure good uptake, with ambitions to vaccinate 30million people, up from 15million last year.

The plans aim to expand the programme to everyone over the age of 50, as well as to children up to the first year of secondary school, pensioners, pregnant women and everyone shielding and their households.

The most vulnerable will be targeted first, meaning healthy people aged between 50 and 64 may not be contacted until close to Christmas.

Until now, healthy people between the age of 50 and 64 have not been offered the vaccine.

The new drive attempts to protect the NHS in the event of a second wave of coronavirus, amid concern that a double whammy of flu and Covid-19 could overwhelm services.

The risks of complications Covid increase with age.

Albert Amran, a researcher from Mcgovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Centre at Houston, said: “Our study suggests that regular use of a very accessible and relatively cheap intervention – the flu shot – may significantly reduce risk of Alzheimer’s dementia”.

“More research is needed to explore the biological mechanism for this effect – why and how it works – which is important as we explore effective preventive therapies for Alzheimer’s.”

Dr Rosa Sancho, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the link between a flu jab and reduced dementia risk was “intriguing”. She said: “This study indicates there is a benefit of having one flu vaccination on dementia risk.

“It is difficult to speculate on the reasons behind this link, and understanding why a seasonal flu vaccine is linked to reduced dementia risk is an important avenue for further research. This research does not mean that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the common flu and there are potential non-biological explanations for this association, such as people who get the flu vaccine being more likely to take other steps to protect their health.”

The charity said that people with dementia and their loved ones had been |hit particularly hard by Covid-19.

Dr Sancho said: “The pandemic has also highlighted the serious nature of infectious diseases, as well as the importance of vaccination. With dementia affecting nearly one million people in the UK alone, we must also consider the impact of infections, and preventing them, on dementia risk.”