Emerging research suggests neurotropic herpesviruses might be linked to dementia, prompting exploration of vaccination as a preventive measure. However, traditional studies often struggle with confounding variables affecting dementia outcomes. This article presents a novel study design using the eligibility criteria for herpes zoster vaccination in Wales to minimize these confounding factors. By comparing individuals born just before and after the eligibility cut-off date, the authors aimed to more accurately assess the causal influence of vaccination on dementia risk, providing stronger evidence for the vaccine's potential effects.
The study's unique design utilized a natural experiment to examine vaccination's causal impact on dementia, leveraging age eligibility cut-off as a controlling variable.
By comparing those born just before and after the eligibility for herpes zoster vaccination, the researchers minimized confounding variables potentially influencing dementia outcomes.
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