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Survey Shows Older Adults Interested in Dementia Vaccine
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In Short: A USC Schaeffer Center survey finds a majority of older adults are interested in a potential dementia vaccine.
According to a new survey from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, a majority of older adults express interest in a vaccine that could significantly reduce their risk of developing dementia.
The study, published on September 21 in JAMA Network Open, involved 1,529 adults aged 50 or older who were asked about their willingness to receive a low-cost, multi-dose vaccine that could halve the risk of dementia for those at high risk.
Lead author J. Geoffrey Joyce noted, 'Older adults are highly interested in receiving a preventive dementia vaccine, while relatively few are opposed.
The survey also highlights the growing evidence that certain vaccines, such as the shingles vaccine, can lower the risk of dementia by around 15-20%. This has sparked interest in how vaccines might prevent or delay dementia, one of the most feared consequences of aging.
Several other vaccines have been linked to a lower risk of dementia, and researchers are currently developing vaccine candidates that target the underlying biology of dementia.
However, the researchers caution that efforts may be needed to address hesitancy among some groups, particularly those at higher risk for dementia.
The survey results are part of the Understanding America Study, a nationally representative, probability-based Internet panel maintained by the Center for Economic and Social Research at the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service.
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