Annual Flu Vaccines Tied to Lower Alzheimer’s Risk Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Flu Vaccines Tied to Lower Alzheimer s Risk

More research finds an association between the annual shot and a reduced likelihood of dementia

Getty Images A flu shot may do more than keep you from getting a fever and fatigue. Accumulating research shows that the annual vaccine could pack brain health benefits as well. Researchers from UTHealth Houston analyzed data from nearly 936,000 patients age 65 and older who received an influenza vaccine and an equal number of individuals who didn’t. They found that over a four-year period, those who had at least one flu shot were 40 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than their unvaccinated peers. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. What’s more, the protective effect was higher among people who got the vaccine routinely. “In other words, the rate of developing Alzheimer’s was lowest among those who consistently received the flu vaccine every year,” lead study author Avram S. Bukhbinder, M.D., said in a statement. Overall, 5.1 percent of flu-vaccinated patients developed Alzheimer’s disease over the study’s four-year follow-up; the prevalence was 8.5 percent for patients who skipped the shot. The , set to be published Aug. 2 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, builds on , also out of UTHealth Houston, that found having at least one flu vaccine was associated with a 17 percent reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s. Those results were presented at the 2020 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

How might the vaccine be connected to Alzheimer s

Experts have yet to identify what could be causing this association between the flu vaccine and a reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s — a disease that affects more than 6 million Americans. There are, however, a few theories. One centers on the immune system and the role it may play in the development of the brain disorder. “Since there is evidence that several vaccines may protect from Alzheimer’s disease, we are thinking that it isn’t a specific effect of the flu vaccine,” said study coauthor Paul E. Schulz, M.D., a professor of neurocognitive disorders at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. of Alzheimer’s disease. “Instead, we believe that the immune system is complex, and some alterations, such as pneumonia [a complication of flu], may activate it in a way that makes Alzheimer’s disease worse. But other things that activate the immune system may do so in a different way — one that protects from Alzheimer’s disease. Clearly, we have more to learn about how the immune system worsens or improves outcomes in this disease,” Schulz said in a statement. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > It may also be that people who keep up with their flu shots “take care of themselves in other ways” and engage in habits that are known to keep the brain healthy, Rebecca Edelmayer, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, told AARP in 2020 when the findings from the first study out of UTHealth Houston were released. Exercise, diet and sleep have of cognitive decline in adults. Intensive blood pressure control can also for mild cognitive impairment — a precursor to dementia. The researchers note that future studies should look at whether flu vaccination may have an impact on the rate of symptom progression in patients who already have Alzheimer’s dementia. It’s also worth investigating whether the have any association with Alzheimer’s disease, they say. Beyond dementia, the flu vaccine has been linked to lower risks for developing some cardiac events, especially for people with heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s also been associated with reduced hospitalizations that arise from complications related to diabetes and chronic lung disease. The CDC recommends that most people 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every season. This year, health officials are urging older adults to opt for a of the shot to enhance their protection against getting seriously ill from an infection. Editor's note: This story, originally published July 28, 2020, has been updated to reflect new information. More on health AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS