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Flu vaccine linked to lower Alzheimer's risk [1]

['Jason Weisberger']

Date: 2026-04-07  



In news that will absolutely enrage the "I did my own research" crowd, a massive study just found that getting a flu shot is associated with a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer's up to 55% in older adults.

In the retrospective cohort study, titled 'Risk of Alzheimer Dementia After High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccination', researchers analysed health data from roughly 165,000 older adults who received either a high-dose or standard-dose influenza vaccine. They found that the high-dose vaccine reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease in those 65 and older by nearly 55% over a roughly two-year period.

Previous findings by the same team showed that the standard-dose vaccine was associated with a 40% reduced risk over a four-year period. The high-dose influenza vaccine contains four times the antigen, which is the component that generates an immune response, of the standard-dose versions.

The study's authors suggest that the "enhanced [flu vaccines] confer greater protection against influenza infection". They add: "Thereby decreasing risk of severe illness and the associated systemic inflammation that can promote neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration".

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[1] Url: https://boingboing.net/2026/04/07/flu-vaccine-linked-to-lower-alzheimers-risk.html

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