British Drugs Giant GSK is launching a groundbreaking investigation that can help millions of British people develop dementia.
Pioneering research uses data from up to 1.4 million NHS patients to test whether its shingles vaccine reduces the risk of degenerative disease, the country’s biggest killer, killing 75,000 lives each year.
In the four-year project, the Singrix vaccine already available in the NHS reduces the risk of dementia by up to 27%, and by up to 27% compared to the older shingles vaccine Zostervax.
“We hope this will answer key questions and help reduce the risk of dementia, as well as paving the way for future research,” said Tony Wood, GSK’s Chief Science Officer.
So far, experts are excited about the development as there are no treatments or effective treatments for dementia.
Existing blockbuster drugs lekanemab and donanemab are not considered cost-effective for use in the NHS.
If Singrix Jab is confirmed to provide protection, it means that millions of elderly people can benefit from the vaccines already being administered through the NHS.
It has been provided to anyone who has turned 65 since 2023 and has turned 65 to protect against the water cell shingles virus, and about 50,000 shingles occur each year.
British Drugs Giant GSK is launching groundbreaking research that can help millions of British people develop dementia
Photo: Tony Wood, Chief Science Officer of GSK in San Francisco in 2019, Tony Wood, 2019
Professor Adam Finn, a member of the government’s Joint Committee on Vaccines and Vaccinations, said there are already plans to expand the rollout of the shingles jab to those in their 60s and above.
However, he added: “If it turns out to be effective in preventing dementia, it might be cost-effective to get the vaccine even earlier.”
Currently, the biggest research is that it is still being released, comparing the number of diagnoses in people from a similar elderly group to those who had JAB.
“It is not yet clear how the shingles vaccine will affect the risk of dementia, whether it reduces inflammation, boosts overall immune health or other factors,” said Dr. Sheona Scales, research director at Alzheimer’s Research UK.
“This study could uncover these mechanisms and provide insight into whether vaccines can help slow the onset of dementia.”
At this point, two Singlics are available to adults who turn 65 after September 1, 2023.
Pioneering research uses data from up to 1.4 million NHS patients to test whether its shingles vaccine reduces the risk of degenerative disease (stock photos)
The project will try to see if the Singrix vaccine reduces the risk of dementia compared to Zostervax, an older shingles vaccine. This also has protective effect (File photo)
Due to supply issues, those who were 65 before that are only eligible when they turn 70.
This created an ideal scenario for research. In two groups of similar ages, one receives a jab, while the other does not.
Wood said: “UK’s unique national health data resources provide important opportunities for cutting-edge research.”
“The age cutoffs have produced a large cohort of individuals who can analyze data like clinical trials,” said Dr. Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at the Alzheimer’s Disease Association.
