A no-brainer for protecting your brain

Replicated association, which is strong, but not proof. Initial study saw a 3.5% absolute reduction in dementia diagnoses over seven years with a very wide confidence interval. In Australia the study was replicated with 1.8% absolute reduction over 7.4 yrs. Canadian replication: 2% over 5.5 yrs.

Infections generally increase the risk of future dementia. Like the more colds you have throughout life.

I'm in my 40s with genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's. Been seriously considering the past year or two paying out of pocket for Shingrix. I think it would be ~$500 total for two doses.

Sure, I could wait 7 or 8 years until I qualify via insurance, but is that really worth the risk for what is an easily absorbed cost to me? Especially when I have a friend in her late 30s who just went through a very rough bout of shingles?

It makes sense to have targets like age 50 for population-wide public health recommendations. But it can and does infect people of much earlier ages.

Recent articles like this make me think I'll go ahead.

CTRL+F covid: 0 results

Very shortsighted article in that regard, but that's the new normal.

If people are concerned about brain health, they'd be wise to continue a zero-covid lifestyle into 2026 and beyond, since each re-infection (which vaccines don't prevent) increases the risk of severe health outcomes, including brain-related issues among lots of others. Adding to the confusion, 40% of COVID infections are asymptomatic but carry the same longterm risks.

Yet I only see about .5-1% of the population in my area these days wearing any kind of mask/N95 respirator in public.

Fortunately at least a tiny minority are waking up to this fact, as can be seen by constant growth in communities like /r/zerocovidcommunity and Google Trends data for 'zero covid'.

TL;DR Shingles vaccines reduces chances of dementia by 20%. Yet, most countries health systems only look at the upfront cost of ~$300 and don’t recommend for all who could benefit.