Sir, – The recent advice from the Lancet medical journal on risk factors for dementia is a useful overview of what is well established in the field (“Nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing ‘14 modifiable risk factors’”, Your Wellness, August 22nd). Unfortunately some of the risk factors are not modifiable (such as low levels of early education) and others are things no one would choose if they could avoid them (depression, social isolation or hearing loss, for example). Emerging evidence does suggest that getting vaccinated against shingles may significantly reduce the risk of dementia. This is a simple and feasible decision anyone can make, with other associated benefits regarding the condition of shingles itself. The research in Nature Medicine, in July of this year by Taquet and colleagues, was probably too late for consideration among the Lancet’s recommendations. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.