Preventing Dementia: The Viral Connection

In this episode of the Talking Biotech podcast, Dr. Kevin Folta speaks with Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer about the relationship between the shingles vaccine and dementia. They discuss the prevalence of shingles, the current vaccination rates, and the potential implications of shingles vaccination on cognitive decline. The data come from a clever analysis of public health data that revealed this surprising result. Dr. Geldsetzer shares insights from his research, which suggests that the shingles vaccine may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia. The conversation also covers the methodology behind the research, findings from various populations, and future directions for further studies in this area.