FLU SHOT MAY SLOW DEMENTIA

GETTING an annual flu shot may slash your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 40 percent, according to researchers at UTHealth Houston.

“We found flu vaccination in older adults reduces the risk for several years,” says Dr. Avram Bukhbinder.

More than 6 million

Americans are battling the memory-robbing disease, and the number is expected to more than double over the next 25 years.

The scientists’ study compared data from 935,887 flu-vaccinated and 935,887 unvaccinated Americans aged 65 and older.

Over four years, about 5.1 percent of the vaccinated developed Alzheimer’s, compared to 8.5 percent of the unvaccinated.

“The rate of developing Alzheimer’s was lowest among those who consistently received the flu vaccine every year,” reveals Bukhbinder. He cautions further study is needed to determine the cause, but adds future research should also assess whether flu vaccination has a role in the rate of symptom progression in patients who already have the condition.