All three vaccines reduce the risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s disease

People are usually vaccinated to prevent serious diseases like measles, rubella and others. But some vaccines also have positive side effects. Did you know that certain vaccines can reduce the risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s?

According to the Alzheimer’s Research Initiative e. v. In Germany, about 1.8 million people live with dementia, 1.2 million of whom have Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, nearly 270,000 people in Germany suffer from strokes each year. Interestingly, vaccines designed for other purposes actually have a preventive effect in both cases. New studies reveal which vaccinations should not be left off your vaccination certificate.

Three vaccines reduce the risk of stroke

During a study of the disease progression of nearly two million patients with Sars-CoV-2 infection between 2020 and 2022 by a team of researchers from the United States, it was found that a corona vaccine can protect against strokes and other complications. The study found that those who received all three corona vaccines had a 41 percent lower risk of serious cardiovascular disease than those who did not receive the vaccine.

Of the two million patients analyzed, nearly 14,000 developed a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease within 180 days of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of those infected, 160 were partially vaccinated, 1,055 were fully vaccinated, and the majority — 12,733 patients — were unvaccinated.

Results of a US study published in February 2023are consistent with each other A Korean research team analyzed similar data from South Korea. Both studies suggest a link between the corona vaccine and the risk of stroke. The exact mechanisms responsible for this are currently unclear, and further research is needed to elucidate.

Nevertheless, undesirable side effects such as the risk of thrombosis are also a possible consequence of the corona vaccine. It was officially confirmed by the Swedish vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca due to some serious cases of side effects. However, it should be noted that these are not long-term side effects, but a risk shortly after vaccination.

The flu vaccine can reduce the risk of stroke by 17 percent

Researchers from Great Britain found in a studyThe flu vaccine can reduce the risk of stroke. Specifically, the risk of stroke was reduced by 55 percent in the first three days of vaccination and 17 percent less after two months compared to those who did not receive the flu vaccine. A possible explanation for this may be that acute respiratory diseases increase the risk of stroke, as other studies have shown.

The study involved nearly 18,000 people who received one or more flu shots and had a stroke during the follow-up period. During this time, in the first 59 days after flu vaccination, the incidence of stroke was reduced by 55 percent compared to the baseline period.

Australian researchers found in 2021 that the shingles vaccine could be another way to reduce the risk of stroke by 17 percent. According to a study, It was published in the specialist journal Stroke, the vaccine was able to reduce the risk of acute ischemic stroke by 17 percent and hemorrhagic stroke by twelve percent. The former involves constriction of the blood vessel, while the latter involves rupture of the vessel.

Researchers analyzed data from 1.6 million US residents over the age of 66 who received the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine between 2008 and 2014. These were compared with a group of the same size that had not been vaccinated. Sociological and clinical factors were taken into account.

Three vaccines reduce Alzheimer’s risk

In an effort to combat Alzheimer’s disease, scientists are investigating the causes of the disease and treatment options. It has long been suspected that infectious diseases may play a role in some forms of Alzheimer’s. This assumption was confirmed by an American study from 2023. This shows that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease can be reduced with regular vaccinations. Study participants were vaccinated against any of the following diseases:

All subjects were over 65 years of age and had not shown symptoms of dementia in the first two years. The researchers tracked them for a total of eight years. Their conclusion was that people who had received at least one vaccine were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who had not. ■