Flu, Pneumonia Shots Associated With Lower Likelihood of Developing Alzheimer's Disease

New studies presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Research Conference associated vaccinations against influenza and pneumonia with lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, reports WTOP-FM in Washington, D.C. One study indicated that people who received at least one flu shot had a 17 percent reduced risk of Alzheimer's, and linked an additional 13 percent reduction to more frequent flu vaccination. A second study implied that people 65 to 75 years old getting vaccinated against pneumonia lowered Alzheimer's risk by up to 40 percent, depending on individual genes. "The vaccines for the flu and pneumonia may be protective because the two diseases that they were designed to prevent are known to affect the brain and every time people have one of those infections, they may experience challenges with their memory and thinking," said Ana Nelson of the Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter. "And, a number of previous studies have suggested that these types of events, especially repeated events over time, might increase someone's risk for Alzheimer's."