It may soon be possible to vaccinate ourselves against the diseases of old age, keeping our body and brain healthier for longer
In the battle against the diseases of old age, an age-old medical technology suddenly looks like a game changer. Vaccines, the injections that we most commonly associate with infectious diseases such as covid-19 and measles, are now showing promise in treating non-infectious diseases – particularly those associated with advancing years. So rapidly is this field progressing that, given a fair wind, there are hints that I – and others my age – may even benefit from some of these vaccinations ourselves. It sounds too good to be true, but vaccinating against the worst aspects of ageing is looking more like a question of when, not if.
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Swiss biopharmaceutical company AC Immune has two Alzheimer’s vaccines doing just this in early-stage human trials, one against each protein. The ultimate goal, says company spokesperson Gary Waanders, is to vaccinate people at the very earliest stages of Alzheimer’s to slow or halt disease progression. That may mean people who have yet to develop any symptoms at all. A recently developed blood test can spot the stirrings of tau-related pathology before any cognitive deterioration appears. “The vaccines will ultimately be given not only to treat Alzheimer’s, but to help prevent it,” says Weiner.
The problem is much more nuanced than “anti-vaxers”. It has more to do with which vaccines are safe and which are not. Surely, you don’t believe all vaccines are safe?
I think “safety” is a complex topic with many factors involved, but more generally my issue with the FDA has been much more in the area of slowness, than of the opposite; excessive speed and lack of safety in their approvals process (whether for drugs or vaccines).
“Some vaccinations by some groups, in some countries, may be less safe than others” I suspect is probably an accurate statement. But I think that ratings of adverse effects, classifications and “values” of adverse effects, and the “value” of a human life (saved), are all things where there will be substantial disagreement; especially between less medically trained and more medically trained.
I think the better question is “Are vaccines, generally speaking, safe enough?”, and I think the answer to that question is definitely “yes”.
When I spoke with friends who are immunologists out of Stanford U. about the covid vaccines there was never any question that it was worth taking.
And, I’ve been taking vaccines my entire life (i.e fully vaccinated per the country I’ve lived in at the time) as have virtually all my friends, family and children - and no issues at all. I generally trust vaccines, and think they are an important contributor to human wellbeing.
My statement above was made “toungue in cheek” above, and really directed at people who are entirely “anti-vaxx” with minimal understanding of the science. I’m sure there is a nuanced discussion to be had about vaccines, but I don’t think its worth having (for me personally) because the success rate has been high enough that I have other things that are higher priority.
That is BS and you know it. Do you think I should go to my doctor and pharmacy and request all available vaccines? Are you standing in line at your local pharmacy requesting vaccines whether you need them or not?
You are so evidence-based when it comes to critiquing others, but you don’t apply the same criteria to yourself. At the same time, there is some evidence that some combos of vaccines extend health span. There is no evidence that “The more the merrier” when it come to vaccines.
Their job is to lie and deceive. We don’t know whether these diseases would have been done with or without the vaccine. The diseases may be good for your immune system.
I have no problem with you taking as many as you want. Don’t talk to me about herd immunity or whether or not I’m a bad person for not taking the vaccine.
