Vaccines protect older individuals from risks associated with flu — preventing more than 100,000 U.S. flu-related hospitalizations every year. According to the Ohio Department of Health, the flu season in the state can begin as early as October and run as late as March.
Reported research shows that flu shots and some other vaccines can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by up to 40%.
“Annual flu vaccinations offer protection against the flu virus, but we are discovering that they also improve long-term health outcomes such as reducing our risk for Alzheimer’s, cardiac arrest and hospitalizations due to diabetes,” said Pam Myers, senior director, programs for the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio and Central Ohio Chapters.
The research, with nearly 1 million participants ages 65 or older who received flu vaccines and 1 million who did not, found that people who had at least one flu vaccine were 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who did not get a flu shot.
An earlier study also noted that while a single flu shot can reduce an individual’s Alzheimer’s risk, individuals who received consecutive yearly flu vaccines experienced the lowest rates of developing Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia, or another dementia.
In addition to regular flu shots, the study reported that being vaccinated against pneumonia between the ages of 65 and 75 has also been found to reduce Alzheimer’s risk by up to 40%.
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Being vaccinated against the flu is also important for individuals living with dementia, as they have a higher risk of dying from infections. Additionally, people living with dementia have elevated mortality rates for 10 years after an initial infection-related hospitalization.
“Infections are high during the winter months, and getting a flu shot is so important,” Myers said. “The dual effect of reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and protecting those living with Alzheimer’s who are particularly vulnerable to the flu, cannot be overstated.”
Contact a healthcare provider or pharmacy to learn more about getting an influenza vaccine. Many pharmacies offer vaccines on a walk-in basis.
There are 236,200 Ohioans 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. More than 4,900 Ohioans died from Alzheimer’s in 2021. A total of 414,000 Ohio caregivers provide 624 million hours of unpaid care each year valued at over $11.4 billion.
To learn more about Alzheimer’s or other dementia and to access free local support and resources, visit alz.org/nwohio or call the Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419.537.1999 or the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.
