Do not underestimate the desire of people like Desantis and Ladapo to have more Floridians with dementia…this renders such people less likely to be able to think critically about the horrors of Republican policies.
I think science is doing all it can to minimize risks of COVID and shingles for seniors. It's still not clear what the results of vaccines are. Clearly a lot of people were hospitalized in 2020 and many died from COVID complications, but it appears the virus has mutated and probably most of us have had it, allowing us to build immunity. I have a new cardiologist who is on the record saying don't get the COVID vaccine. He's not against all vaccines, just what's out there now and how it will impact a heart patient. I have had the shingles vaccines, which I hope was a smart move. But aside from political ideology, the best course of action for your health is to use your own judgment.
It is unfortunate that pundits do not understand a key principle of statistical modeling science: correlation is not the same thing as causation. In this case, it seems likely that people who get vaccinations - i.e., those who believe in medical science - engage in healthier lifestyle and health behavior practices than do others generally; and it is this health conscious behavior over time that explains why vaccination use is associated with lower incidence of dementia. That is, healthier people are less prone to the onset of dementia period; it is not the administration of any specific vaccination that reduces the risk of dementia. -- Jonathan E. Brill, PhD
Did you miss the part where he wrote that fewer infections=less brain shrinkage?
Without a vaccine, you increase your chances of being infected with some heavy-duty illnesses or having a more severe reaction to an infection.
You can exercise all you want, and eat tons of kale, but that won't protect you if someone coughs a little Covid or whooping cough germs in your face while you're shopping at Publix.
Remember, FDR was rich, had every medical advantage, and was in the peak of physical fitness when polio found him, before vaccines.
Your reaction indicates that you miss my point. I agree that vaccinations are good health policy to protect others (via herd immunity) and deprive infectious diseases from the hosts they need to spread to others. In fact, I personally get every vaccination I can. But to say any vaccination protects against the onset of dementia is just wrong (or, at least, an unjustified conclusion). And that is and was my only point.
Do not underestimate the desire of people like Desantis and Ladapo to have more Floridians with dementia…this renders such people less likely to be able to think critically about the horrors of Republican policies.
Enjoy your posts and sense of humor. This 81 year old got his flu and RSV vaccinations on 9/11/25 and Covid-19 yesterday, 9/25/25.
Michael H. Radell, DDS
Is it posible that people who elect to receive vaccines have less demention because they are simply more concerned about taking care of themselves?
I think science is doing all it can to minimize risks of COVID and shingles for seniors. It's still not clear what the results of vaccines are. Clearly a lot of people were hospitalized in 2020 and many died from COVID complications, but it appears the virus has mutated and probably most of us have had it, allowing us to build immunity. I have a new cardiologist who is on the record saying don't get the COVID vaccine. He's not against all vaccines, just what's out there now and how it will impact a heart patient. I have had the shingles vaccines, which I hope was a smart move. But aside from political ideology, the best course of action for your health is to use your own judgment.
Just subscribed; great stuff!
It is unfortunate that pundits do not understand a key principle of statistical modeling science: correlation is not the same thing as causation. In this case, it seems likely that people who get vaccinations - i.e., those who believe in medical science - engage in healthier lifestyle and health behavior practices than do others generally; and it is this health conscious behavior over time that explains why vaccination use is associated with lower incidence of dementia. That is, healthier people are less prone to the onset of dementia period; it is not the administration of any specific vaccination that reduces the risk of dementia. -- Jonathan E. Brill, PhD
Did you miss the part where he wrote that fewer infections=less brain shrinkage?
Without a vaccine, you increase your chances of being infected with some heavy-duty illnesses or having a more severe reaction to an infection.
You can exercise all you want, and eat tons of kale, but that won't protect you if someone coughs a little Covid or whooping cough germs in your face while you're shopping at Publix.
Remember, FDR was rich, had every medical advantage, and was in the peak of physical fitness when polio found him, before vaccines.
Your reaction indicates that you miss my point. I agree that vaccinations are good health policy to protect others (via herd immunity) and deprive infectious diseases from the hosts they need to spread to others. In fact, I personally get every vaccination I can. But to say any vaccination protects against the onset of dementia is just wrong (or, at least, an unjustified conclusion). And that is and was my only point.