NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n A new, stronger flu shot could slash Alzheimer\u2019s risk in half, according to new data.<\/p>\n The study, led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), found that adults aged 65 and older who received a high-dose influenza vaccine<\/a> had a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer\u2019s disease compared to those who received the standard dose.<\/p>\n The immune system naturally weakens with age, making older adults less responsive to standard vaccines. To combat this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a high-dose flu vaccine for people over 65. This version is approximately four times stronger than the standard shot.<\/p>\n ONE TYPE OF OLIVE OIL HAS A SURPRISING EFFECT ON BRAINPOWER DURING AGING<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Alzheimer\u2019s disease, a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, affects more than six million Americans, most of them age 65 or older.<\/p>\n Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical contributor, weighed in on the impact of the flu shot on Alzheimer’s risk.<\/p>\n Alzheimer\u2019s disease, a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, affects more than six million Americans, most of them age 65 or older.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n As the vaccine directly impacts the immune system, it is possible that this interaction could decrease inflammation in the body and “thereby indirectly decrease Alzheimer’s risk,” Siegel, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n “Flu shots and their components do not cross the blood-brain barrier<\/a>, meaning they aren\u2019t directly affecting brain cells.”<\/p>\n “We can\u2019t conclude from this that it is the flu shot itself that causes the effect.”<\/p>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n “I was stunned that, as a physician, I didn\u2019t know a higher dose was offered,” lead study author Paul Schulz, professor of neurology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, said in a press release.<\/p>\n Schulz also led a previous study linking general flu vaccination to a 40% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk.<\/p>\n While the previous research had already linked general flu vaccination<\/a> to a reduction in Alzheimer’s risk, this new study looked specifically at the strength of the dose.<\/p>\n POPULAR DIET TIED TO LOWER DEMENTIA RISK FOR SOME GROUPS, STUDY REVEALS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “The public health department had seen our vaccine research and asked if I could come down to talk to them about it,” said Schulz. “We went through the findings, and they asked if there was a difference with different dosages; I was confused.”<\/p>\n Adults who received the quadruple-strength vaccine had a lower risk of Alzheimer\u2019s than those who received the standard dose.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n After sorting through data from nearly 200,000 older adults, the team found that the adults who received the high-dose vaccine had a lower risk of Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> than those who received the standard dose.<\/p>\n Adults in the high-dose group had an almost 55% lower risk than those who weren’t vaccinated, significantly outperforming standard-dose protection.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The protective effect of the high-dose vaccine was even more pronounced in women<\/a> compared to men, although both groups saw significant benefits.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n This study shows a link, not a cause, the researchers noted.<\/p>\n Experts can’t say for certain that the flu shot itself stopped Alzheimer\u2019s, as people who get high-dose vaccines might also have other healthy habits, like better diets<\/a> or more frequent check-ups.<\/p>\n The study focused on people over 65, so it’s unclear whether getting these shots earlier in life would provide the same level of protection.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The researchers also looked at medical records after the fact, rather than following two controlled groups<\/a> in real time, which can sometimes result in missing information or biases.<\/p>\n “This is not a cause\/effect study,” Siegel reiterated. “We can\u2019t conclude that the flu shot itself causes the effect; it could be something about the people who decide to take this shot.”<\/p>\n\n
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