Vaccine found to decrease Alzheimer’s disease risk by 55 per cent

Vaccine found to decrease Alzheimer’s disease risk by 55 per centPeople who had a high dose of the common jab had a lower riskCommentsNewsCharlotte Smith Senior Lifestyle Content Editor11:56, 07 Apr 2026Updated 11:58, 07 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesMillions get the jab every year (stock image)(Image: Getty)A common vaccine millions take every year has been linked to 'significantly lower' dementia risk in elderly people. A large observational study published in Neurology found that receiving a high-dose flu vaccine is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease in adults aged 65 and older.‌The findings were led by researchers at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston. In the UK, there are currently estimated to be 982,000 people living with dementia, the Alzheimer's Society says, rising to 1.4 million in 2040.‌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".View 3 Images982,000 people are living with dementia in the UK (stock image)‌Commenting on the results, the researchers also said: "High-dose i...