Most Americans aged 50 and older said they would be interested in receiving a vaccine that could reduce their risk of dementia if they were at high risk, survey data showed.
Nearly three‑quarters of respondents (72.1%) indicated they would likely or definitely receive such a vaccine, according to J. Felipe Montano‑Campos, PhD, of the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Government Service in Los Angeles, and co‑authors, in a JAMA Network Open research letter. About one‑fifth (20.8%) were uncertain, while 7.2% said they would likely or definitely decline the vaccine.
Gender and racial differences were evident. Women were more hesitant than men (23.0% vs 18.5%) and less likely to say they would definitely accept the vaccine (29.1% vs 38.5%). Black adults exhibited the highest hesitation, being roughly half as likely as white adults to say they would definitely get the vaccine (19.8% vs 35.8%).
“Older adults are highly interested in receiving a preventive dementia vaccine, while relatively few are opposed,” Montano‑Campos said in a statement. “As vaccine options emerge, efforts may be needed to address hesitancy among some groups, including those at higher risk for dementia.”
While no vaccine is currently approved to prevent dementia, several studies have suggested links between shingles vaccination and a lower risk of dementia in older adults. A “natural experiment” in Wales found that people who received the live‑attenuated zoster vaccine (Zostavax) had a 20% lower risk of dementia. A recent analysis of Medicare beneficiaries showed that receiving the recombinant zoster shot (Shingrix) was associated with a 33% lower risk of any dementia type.
Last year, a study of U.S. patients linked AS01‑adjuvanted vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (Arexvy) and recombinant zoster (Shingrix) to a lower incidence of dementia, prompting speculation that the adjuvant component may play a role.
To gauge public attitudes, Montano‑Campos and colleagues surveyed 1,529 adults aged 50 and older from the Understanding America Study, a nationally representative internet panel. Participants were asked about their interest in a low‑cost, multidose vaccine that would reduce dementia risk by 50% for those at high risk. The weighted sample had a mean age of 65.6 years, 52.5% were women, 73.7% white, 14.6% Hispanic, and 11.7% Black. About 45.7% held a college degree or higher.
Acceptance varied by age, with 31.1% of adults 50‑59 and 35.1% of those 70 and older responding “definitely yes.” Higher‑income respondents (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.22‑2.20) and those with a college education (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.17‑1.78) were more willing to receive the vaccine. Individuals who reported personal or close‑family dementia experience also showed greater willingness (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.19‑1.73).
Several preventive strategies, including immunotherapies and vaccine‑based approaches, are under development to delay or reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk, the authors noted.
“Our findings have important implications for the implementation of emerging preventive dementia vaccines, suggesting the need for targeted communication and engagement to ensure equitable uptake,” they wrote.
The study used hypothetical scenarios and may not fully reflect real‑world clinical decision‑making, the researchers acknowledged.
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