Vaccines are rightly on many peoples’ minds as we live in hope of eventually being able to return to a more open way of life post-pandemic. Two studies have found a link between the flu and pneumonia vaccines and a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

The first study, by a team at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, found that annual flu vaccines “correlated to a 17% lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s with an additional 13% reduction for patients who continued to receive the vaccination over a period of years.” Importantly, patients receiving a vaccine before the age of 60, and then over subsequent years, showed the most protective response.

The second study, from the Duke University Social Science Research Institute, found that the pneumonia vaccine typically given to patients over the age of 65 reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 25 to 35 percent.

Caregivers could benefit from the vaccine as well to help reduce the risk of transmission. With vaccine rates falling nationally, this may be the year for many to consider getting at least the flu vaccine.

Read more from Next Avenue.