[Connie Beard (KB7JZH)]

Reference: https://www.rrvarc.org/forums/topic/could-the-shingles-vaccine-help-reduce-dementia-risk/

 

Scientific progress is a compelling field, especially when it touches on something you have an interest in. However, some things aren’t necessarily what they seem, especially when filtered through a journalist’s pen.

So please open the link and read beyond the headline. Many times I finish reading an article and wonder where the heck they came up with their headline.

Beyond that, several years ago I wrote a column on how to assess articles that cite scientific studies. I evidently didn’t keep that column, so I am re-creating part of it here to help assess, verify and gather facts to draw your own conclusion rather than the one the journalist pushed.

First and foremost, if an article refers to a study, they better provide a link to that study.

If not, how can you assess their conclusions?

If not, what are they hiding?

If not, is the study not well documented, planned, carried out, documented?

If not, the article was not worth the bits and bytes used to produce it.

When there is a link, ALWAYS go to it because there are other bullet points you can use to decide for yourself the veracity of the study and come to your own conclusion about data gathered from their work.

Here is a link to a very good article on how to assess a scientific study even if you don’t understand all their technical terms — https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/how-to-read-a-research-study/ . I thought it quite prescient of its source since this came about from an Alzheimer’s study article.

And if you don’t want to read this article, here are a couple points (without as much explanatory information) worth noting and for future reference.

1. Who commissioned the study?
2. What is the stated objective for the study and specific questions the authors want answered?
3. Where is the study published? Is it a credible source?
4. When was the study conducted?
5. Are there any conflicts of interest of the authors (researchers)?

The American Brain Foundation stressed, “One important thing to remember about research study conclusions is the difference between correlation and causation.”

They also highlighted: “Always remember that a single research study, even if perfectly accurate and credible, is only part of a larger overall body of evidence to establish scientific truth.”

Even if you can’t get to the entire study due to a paywall or demands to join whatever group posted the information, there should at least be a summary of the study, which should include answers to all the questions posed above.

The article in this forum about the shingles vaccine and Alzheimer’s does include a link to the study via a scientific journal which answers these questions.

Speaking of studies, here’s a 2025 study https://www.scripps.edu/news-events/news/20250319-lipton-alzheimers/ by Scripps Research on Alzheimer’s and compounds found in both rosemary and sage.

• This topic was modified 1 week, 2 days ago by KB7JZH.

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