Shingles vaccine may protect against dementia.
In a study published in Nature, Stanford Medicine researchers analyzed the health records of Welsh older adults and found that those vaccinated against shingles (a reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox) were 20 percent less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years. Previous studies have shown a link between the shingles vaccine and lower dementia rates but couldn’t account for other protective habits, such as diet and exercise, that tend not to be included in health records. The Welsh group, however, provided a natural experiment, because 79-year-olds were eligible for the vaccine but 80-year-olds were not. The researchers analyzed the outcomes of those who turned 80 one week too soon to be eligible for the vaccine and those of their counterparts born a week later. Seven years later, the groups had the same rates of other health issues, like diabetes and cancer. The only difference was the reduced rate of dementia in those who had received the shingles vaccine. “It was a really striking finding,” said Pascal Geldsetzer, an assistant professor of medicine and senior author of the study. “This huge protective signal was there, any which way you looked at the data.” The study supports a theory that viruses that affect the nervous system can increase the risk of dementia.
A letter from the president and provost.
In an email last week, Stanford president Jonathan Levin, ’94, and provost Jenny Martinez welcomed the campus community to spring quarter and shared their approach to federal policy issues challenging the university—including advocacy for the “importance of federal research funding that drives national scientific leadership and innovation” and a focus on nurturing academic freedom and a culture of open inquiry. They also stressed the value of universities. “The creativity, dynamism, and leadership of this country depend on the strength of American universities,” they wrote. “The success of universities also rests on the American ideal of the open exploration of ideas, a culture of freedom, and horizons of opportunity for all. At its best, Stanford epitomizes that spirit and we are committed to sustaining the campus as a place where, in the words of our motto, the wind of freedom blows.”
Science: It’s what’s for dinner.
Photo: Harry Gregory
When you think of fudge, surely you think of nucleation? Well, you would if you’d taken Stanford’s new materials science and engineering course. In Edible Materials: The Science of Texture, students learn the science behind food and the real-life skill of preparing it, whether they’re exploring diffusion while cooking mushrooms or creating phase diagrams while tempering chocolate. “We’re hoping that by making it a kitchen-focused class, more students can be exposed to STEM in a less scary way, and pick up laboratory and experimental skills in a more fun, applicable way,” said the course instructor, lecturer Haoxue Yan.
Sparking ideas for a century.
The School of Engineering is 100 years old, and a centenarian never looked so good. Stanford magazine offers a glimpse of the breadth of Stanford Engineering accomplishments (like the 1926 opening of a high-voltage lab that included a fiery public demonstration of its 2.1-million-volt capacity) and fun facts (turns out the terms computer science and artificial intelligence were coined by Stanford CS professors). The school itself is going even deeper, with monthly stories about the past century. Here’s to the next 100 years.
The menopause penalty.
A new study has found that women who visit a health care provider with perimenopause- or menopause-related symptoms are earning 10 percent less money four years later. About 85 percent of women report experiencing symptoms such as hot flashes and poor concentration. Still, most women approaching menopause have little information on what to expect from the transition biologically, let alone economically—even though they represent 20 percent of the U.S. workforce. “There’s hardly any research into the economic costs of menopause, and the need to fill this void is enormous,” said Petra Persson, an assistant professor of economics. She found that the lost wages in midlife were concentrated among women without college degrees, those working manual or routine-intensive jobs, and those in smaller private-sector companies. The hit to income was due to cutting back on work hours or quitting altogether, which other studies have estimated result in $1.8 billion in work lost each year in the U.S. “We have parental leave policies, and we have policies that support workers when their productivity dips for health reasons,” Persson said, “so it makes sense to also have policies that help women during the menopause transition.”
But wait, there’s more.
Professor emeritus of health policy Jay Bhattacharya, ’90, MA ’90, MD ’98, PhD ’01, has been confirmed as director of the National Institutes of Health.
Former NFL quarterback and coach Frank Reich has been named Stanford’s interim head football coach following the March 25 dismissal of Troy Taylor.
Last week, Sen. Cory Booker, ’91, MA ’92, of New Jersey delivered the longest speech in Senate history, speaking for 25 hours and five minutes without eating, sitting, or going to the bathroom. If you want the formula for endurance monologues, the former Cardinal football player said he fasted for days leading up to the marathon and stopped drinking water the night before.
The visas of dozens of international students in California, including four Stanford students and two recent graduates, have been revoked by federal authorities. On Friday, university officials said they did not know the reasons for the revocations. External legal assistance has been made available to the affected individuals.
A study has shown that a “prescription for produce”—nutrition intervention with coaching and weekly deliveries of fruits and vegetables—can improve both physical and mental health.
Measles, the most contagious infection throughout human history, was once declared eliminated in the United States. Now, it’s resurging as a result of lower vaccination rates. U.S. adults are generally protected—unless they were born between 1957 and 1968. Those adults may not have had measles and may have received a weaker version of the vaccine. A blood test can determine whether you’ve had measles or should consider vaccination.
Congrats are in order: Stanford artistic swimming has claimed its 10th national championship, and women’s gymnastics recently brought home the Card’s first ACC championship title.
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