[satya71]

TL;DR Shingles vaccines reduces chances of dementia by 20%. Yet, most countries health systems only look at the upfront cost of ~$300 and don’t recommend for all who could benefit.

[MASNeo]

In a separate article the other factors are quoted with similar impact (listed in order of max potential magnitude) - anti depression treatment - education increases - hearing improvement - obesity reduction - low alcohol

The earlier you start the better.

[gruez]

>anti depression treatment - regular exercise - obesity reduction - education - less/no alcohol

Injecting people with a shingles vaccine is far easier than the others you listed, which is why it stands out.

[rsyring]

Can you share the article you reference?

[MASNeo]

Its paywalled though: https://economist.com/briefing/2026/07/09/how-dementia-is-be...

[WalterGR]

> hearing improvement

This means addressing hearing loss, e.g. via hearing aids.

[ferongr]

Dementia largely affects people on a pension, and not working adults contributing to the pyramid scheme.

[xelaboi]

This would be a good conspiracy theory if dementia was a short illness.

[hatsunearu]

Should I get the shingles vaccine at a young age? I've had chickenpox earlier in my life.

[jyounker]

As someone who got shingles at about 46, yes.

[tptacek]

That may be the case in other countries, but in the US we're generally fee-for-service, so the incentives are reversed, and we still don't give it until you're 50 (which, as someone who has had it and is under 50, annoys me to no end).

[SoftTalker]

20% of what?