The EXACT Moment I Stopped Fearing Dementia

Brad Stanfield

Dec 21, 2025

Episode description

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Timestamps:
00:00 Serendipitous Moments in Medicine
01:35 The Varicella Zoster Virus and Dementia
02:34 The Shingles Vaccine and Dementia
04:13 The Wales Dementia Study
06:33 The Impact of the Shingles Vaccine
07:09 Addressing Potential Objections
09:33 The New Shingles Vaccine
10:24 Other Potential Strategies to Reduce Dementia Risk
11:02 Supplements That May Lower Dementia Risk
13:12 Conclusions & Key Takeaways

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Here are the links to the research papers referenced in the video:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8597989/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10246135/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9006884/
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)01256-5
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1501184?url_ver=Z39.88-2003
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11485228/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09335-x
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2824%2901296-0/abstract
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11103094/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30958356/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8912287/
https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/advance-article/doi/10.1093/nutrit/nuac064/6671817
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3610948/

Thumbnail by James Kelly
Video edited by Troy Young
Script by John Milliken

The links above are affiliate links, so I receive a small commission every time you use them to purchase a product. The content contained in this video, and its accompanying description, is not intended to replace viewers’ relationships with their own medical practitioner. Always speak with your doctor regarding the content of this channel, and especially before using any products, services, or devices discussed on this channel.

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Reduce homocysteine levels with TMG to lower Alzheimer's risk

The supplement TMG may lower a key risk factor for Alzheimer's disease by reducing high levels of the amino acid homocysteine.

#Alzheimer's

#TMG

Take daily multivitamin to slow brain aging

A large trial discovered that taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement had an effect on cognition equivalent to reducing the brain's aging speed by two years.

#cognition

#supplement

Receive shingles vaccine to lower dementia risk

In a large natural experiment, receiving the shingles vaccine was associated with a nearly 20% relative risk reduction in new dementia diagnoses.

#dementia

#vaccine

Utilize shingles vaccine to reduce dementia-related mortality risk

For individuals already diagnosed with dementia, the shingles vaccine appeared to slash their risk of death over a nine-year period by nearly 30 percentage points.

#dementia

#vaccine

Choose newer shingles vaccine to lower dementia risk

A study in the US found that the newer, recombinant shingles vaccine was associated with an even lower risk of dementia than the older, live-virus version.

#dementia

#vaccine

Ensure adequate B vitamins to maximize omega-3 brain benefits

Research found that having adequate B vitamin levels, which can be supported by a multivitamin, was important for seeing the brain-boosting benefits of omega-3 supplements.

#omega-3

#vitamin-B

Investigate chickenpox virus role in dementia development

The varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, is a chief suspect in driving dementia by acting as a chronic stressor that drives inflammation in the brain.