Observing and studying shingles may help in reducing dementia

INTE

- Dr Ali A Smith

It's the little things. Noting the odd unexpected things. Then studying them. That's how medicine has been built. Building evidence usually starts with noticing something that seems like a coincidence.

Then proving it wasn't just a coincidence. Whilst there have been some medical advances that were built on logical deduction, most come from investigating what at first looks like a coincidence.

Our understanding of dementia is following that sort of pattern. There have been major headlines about the development and release of new drugs. Whilst they were interesting, they have actually made little impact on the reality of dementia. They aren’t being used outside of trials. The drugs are designed to limit or reverse the progression of dementia once it has developed.

Reversing dementia is exceptionally unlikely and so the best prospect is to limit its progression. However, drugs that are limiting its progression will be expensive and not altogether desirable. You get to live with dementia for longer. That increases your care needs and even if the drug is cheap, living longer with dementia is expensive.