A Breakthrough Vaccine for Anti-Aging Could Be Sitting on Pharmacy Shelves, But Few Are Taking It.
Despite being available since 2006, the shingles vaccine has not gained widespread acceptance among Americans, particularly seniors who are most at risk from the disease. The vaccine's inventor believes that its benefits extend far beyond preventing painful skin rashes to also slowing down biological aging and dementia.
Recent studies have shown that receiving the shingles vaccine is associated with a 20 percent lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia. Additionally, individuals who already had dementia and received the vaccine experienced slower disease progression and fewer deaths, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits. The vaccine's impact on cognitive decline has also been observed in other countries, including Australia and Canada.
Researchers are now eager to investigate these findings further, but financial support for further research has dwindled. According to Pascal Geldsetzer, a Stanford University researcher, securing funding has been "surprisingly hard." He believes that a randomized clinical trial would provide the most compelling evidence of the vaccine's efficacy in preventing dementia and slowing aging.
The challenges are multifaceted, including a decline in pharmaceutical investment, an NIH grant that supported initial research now being reevaluated under new leadership, and growing concerns about vaccination hesitancy even among seniors. These factors have led to low vaccination rates for shingles shots, particularly among men, people from historically marginalized groups, and those with lower incomes.
In a more ideal scenario, the vaccine might be recommended for younger individuals as well due to its potential long-term benefits in preventing chronic diseases associated with aging. At present, it is crucial for family members and healthcare providers to encourage seniors to take the shingles shot, which could have far-reaching consequences for their health and that of those around them.
With an estimated 30 percent of eligible Americans having received the shingles vaccine as of 2022, there remains a significant opportunity to maximize its value through increased research efforts and public outreach.
Despite being available since 2006, the shingles vaccine has not gained widespread acceptance among Americans, particularly seniors who are most at risk from the disease. The vaccine's inventor believes that its benefits extend far beyond preventing painful skin rashes to also slowing down biological aging and dementia.
Recent studies have shown that receiving the shingles vaccine is associated with a 20 percent lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia. Additionally, individuals who already had dementia and received the vaccine experienced slower disease progression and fewer deaths, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits. The vaccine's impact on cognitive decline has also been observed in other countries, including Australia and Canada.
Researchers are now eager to investigate these findings further, but financial support for further research has dwindled. According to Pascal Geldsetzer, a Stanford University researcher, securing funding has been "surprisingly hard." He believes that a randomized clinical trial would provide the most compelling evidence of the vaccine's efficacy in preventing dementia and slowing aging.
The challenges are multifaceted, including a decline in pharmaceutical investment, an NIH grant that supported initial research now being reevaluated under new leadership, and growing concerns about vaccination hesitancy even among seniors. These factors have led to low vaccination rates for shingles shots, particularly among men, people from historically marginalized groups, and those with lower incomes.
In a more ideal scenario, the vaccine might be recommended for younger individuals as well due to its potential long-term benefits in preventing chronic diseases associated with aging. At present, it is crucial for family members and healthcare providers to encourage seniors to take the shingles shot, which could have far-reaching consequences for their health and that of those around them.
With an estimated 30 percent of eligible Americans having received the shingles vaccine as of 2022, there remains a significant opportunity to maximize its value through increased research efforts and public outreach.
. I mean, we know it's been around since 2006 but still not enough people are taking it! It's like, come on guys, it could potentially save your brain and slow down aging 
. And don't even get me started on how hard it is to get funding for further research 
. I feel like we're missing out on some major breakthroughs here. We need to encourage more people, especially seniors, to take this vaccine and make it a priority 
. The fact that men and people from marginalized groups are not getting vaccinated is just unacceptable 
. Let's get the word out and make this happen! 
It's wild to think about a vaccine being out since 2006 and still not getting the love it deserves. I mean, we're talking dementia and cognitive decline prevention here, that's huge! 
And it's not just Americans who are lagging behind - I've got friends from Australia and Canada too who are like "yeah, our elderly folks are getting this vaccine too". What's the hold up? 
More funding is definitely needed to get these studies done and prove its benefits. We gotta make sure we're supporting our seniors with access to better healthcare options! 
I think its crazy we're still not taking advantage of this amazing vaccine! 
Shingles is no joke and it's affecting so many people, but at the same time, it could be preventing dementia and slowing down our aging process... that's a game changer 
. We need to get more funding for research so we can figure out how to use it to our advantage. And honestly, its crazy how some groups are hesitant to even get vaccinated 
.
Like, people are already getting shingles and we're still worried about it? Let's get on board with this vaccine ASAP! 
We need to make sure everyone knows about the benefits of this vaccine, especially seniors. I mean, they're more likely to be diagnosed with dementia but also more at risk from shingles. It's a no-brainer, right?! 
& slowing down aging? that's like, a dream come true 
especially for our seniors who are already at risk. and did u know it's even showing promise in other countries 
? but sadly, it's not getting the funding it needs 
... pharmaceutical companies aren't investing as much & there's this growing hesitancy even among seniors 
. like, we gotta get more people to take this vaccine 
I'm not surprised that more people aren't taking the shingles vaccine. It's all about awareness and education, you know? We gotta get the word out that this vaccine could really make a difference in our health as we age.
Like, what's up with that? I've heard of people getting super anxious about vaccines, but seniors should know better, right? 
Anyway, more research would be awesome, but come on people, take your shingles shot already! 
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