Risk of Alzheimer Dementia After High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccination

Previous studies, including large cohort analyses comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated adults, suggest that routine immunizations such as inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) may reduce Alzheimer dementia (AD) risk. Whether AD risk differs after high-dose IIV (H-IIV) vs standard-dose IIV (S-IIV) remains unexamined. We hypothesized that AD risk would be lower among adults ≥65 years after H-IIV compared with S-IIV.

Read the study HERE

What’s the latest on Alzheimer’s disease?

The statistics are staggering – 342,000 people are listed as primary caregivers to the 11.7% of Virginians over age 65 living with Alzheimer’s disease. And the care that these loved ones provide within the commonwealth? It’s estimated to be worth $12.5 billion, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.  

“The need for dementia care in Central Virginia is immense,” said James “Trey” Bateman, M.D., MPH, director of the VCU Health Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive disorders clinic. “There’s an excellent opportunity to grow a program that excels at clinical care, research and education.” 

Families need help coping with the diagnosis and care of those they love, and VCU Health strives to be at the forefront of research and treatment.

Internationally, more than 130 new dementia drugs are in the trial phase, with more on the horizon. Several already in the marketplace are proving that progression of the disease can be slowed if caught early and treated with the correct medication. Researchers are also learning how to tailor drugs to an individual patient’s brain chemistry.  

Read it all HERE

HIV-related memory loss shares similarity with Alzheimer’s

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


Many people living with HIV report having memory loss or other cognitive problems that can sound a lot like early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike their senior counterparts, however, cognitively impaired people with HIV are often in their 40s and 50s—and the early decline can make it difficult to hold jobs and maintain personal lives.

Researchers have been looking for similarities between the two diseases for years. And new findings, published online today in the journal Neurology, have confirmed a key commonality: abnormal distribution of a protein known as amyloid beta.

Read the full article HERE

Your Lifestyle Choices Could Halve Your Dementia Risk

Nearly half of dementia cases may be influenced by modifiable factors like smoking, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure.

Research suggests that many dementia cases are connected to risk factors that people may be able to change. A new study from Lund University identifies several lifestyle and health conditions linked to two of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

See more HERE