The role of religion in health promotion: How the Danish health authorities use arguments from Islam

The starting point of this article is a debate that took place in Denmark in 2021, when the Danish Health Authority together with Islamic organizations produced a pamphlet on Covid-19 vaccination which contained answers to religious questions Muslims might have about the vaccine. The pamphlet was broadly condemned by Danish politicians. This article shows that this was far from the first time that the Danish health authorities have used or referred to specific interpretations of Islam. In this article, we investigate both how the Danish health authorities have used or considered Islam and the questions this raises regarding how to consider religion in relation to health. The article highlights the many different ways that health authorities might interact with Islam, including partnerships with imams and Islamic organizations, referencing religious rulings in information material, providing advice to Muslims on how to handle religious practices such as Ramadan in a healthy way, and adjusting health regulations to allow Muslims to practice their religion. Based on these examples, the article presents insights regarding the dynamics of which health authorities have to be aware when attempting to interact with religion, and the key considerations to have in mind when religion and health interact in society

Reduced dementia incidence after varicella zoster vaccination in Wales 2013–2020

Abstract Introduction Chronic infection with herpes viruses is a potential contributing factor to the development of dementia. The introduction of nationwide shingles (varicella zoster) vaccination in Wales might therefore be associated with reduced incident dementia. Methods We analyzed the association of shingles vaccination with incident dementia in Wales between 2013 and 2020 using retrospectively collected national health data. Results Vaccinated individuals were at reduced risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.69 to 0.75). The association was not modified by a reduction in shingles diagnosis and was stronger for vascular dementia than for Alzheimer's disease. Vaccination was also associated with a reduction in several other diseases and all‐cause mortality. Discussion Our study shows a clear association of shingles vaccination with reduced dementia, consistent with other observational cohort studies. The association may reflect selection bias with people choosing to be vaccinated having a higher healthy life expectancy

Mapping morbidity 10 years prior to a diagnosis of young onset Alzheimer's disease

INTRODUCTION: Early symptoms in young onset Alzheimer's disease (YOAD) may be misinterpreted, causing delayed diagnosis. This population-based study aimed to map morbidity prior to YOAD diagnosis.METHODS: In a register-based incidence density matched nested case-control study, we examined hospital-diagnosed morbidity for people diagnosed with YOAD in Danish memory clinics during 2016-2020 compared to controls in a 10-year period. Conditional logistic regression produced incidence rate ratios (IRRs).RESULTS: The study included 1745 cases and 5235 controls. YOAD patients had a higher morbidity burden in the year immediately before dementia diagnosis, for certain disorders up to 10 years before. This was especially evident for psychiatric morbidity with the highest increased IRRs throughout the entire period and IRR 1.43 (95% confidence interval 1.14-1.79) in the 5-10-years before dementia diagnosis.DISCUSSION: YOAD patients display a different pattern of morbidity up to 10 years prior to diagnosis. Awareness of specific alterations in morbidity may improve efforts toward a timely diagnosis.HIGHLIGHTS: Retrospective, nested case-control study of young onset Alzheimer's disease (YOAD). YOAD cases had a higher morbidity burden than controls. YOAD cases had a higher psychiatric morbidity burden up to 10 years before diagnosis. Altered morbidity patterns could serve as an early warning sign of YOAD.</p