Would you roll up your sleeve to cut your dementia risk in half? Most older Americans say absolutely. A new survey published in JAMA Network Open found that 72.1% of U.S. adults aged 50 and older would likely or definitely receive a hypothetical low-cost, multidose vaccine that could reduce dementia risk by 50% for high-risk individuals. Only 7.2% said they would not, while about one-fifth remained undecided.

But enthusiasm wasn't uniform. Women were more hesitant than men (23% vs. 18.5%), and Black adults were nearly half as likely as white adults to say they'd "definitely" get vaccinated (19.8% vs. 35.8%). Higher income, college education, and personal experience with dementia were all linked to greater willingness to vaccinate.

By the Numbers:

• 72.1% of adults 50+ would likely or definitely get the vaccine
• 20.8% were unsure; 7.2% said they would not
• Black adults were ~50% less likely than white adults to say "definitely yes" (19.8% vs. 35.8%)
• Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) has been associated with a 33% lower dementia risk in Medicare beneficiaries

Why it matters: No dementia vaccine exists yet, but research is advancing fast. These findings signal strong public appetite — and underscore the need for targeted outreach to ensure equitable uptake when preventive options do arrive.