King Charles Opens London Fashion Week as Shingles Vaccine Shows Alzheimer's Promise

A major study led by the University of Exeter and funded by Alzheimer's Society has identified three already-approved medications as the most promising candidates for repurposing in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. After reviewing 80 existing drugs, an international panel of experts named the shingles vaccine Zostavax, Viagra (sildenafil), and motor neurone disease medication riluzole as the top contenders — with the shingles vaccine as the clear front-runner. The findings were published in the journal Alzheimer's Research and Therapy.

The case for repurposing existing drugs is compelling: developing a new medication can take 10 to 15 years and cost billions, whereas medicines already in widespread use carry established safety records. The shingles vaccine in particular requires no more than two doses, and prior observational data has suggested that vaccinated individuals may be around 16% less likely to develop dementia. Researchers believe the vaccine may interact with the immune system in ways that counter some of the harmful neurological changes seen in Alzheimer's.

A separate study published in Nature Communications, analyzing records from more than 300,000 individuals, found that the recombinant shingles vaccine Shingrix was associated with a 51% lower observed risk of dementia — including both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Researchers emphasized that while results are promising, clinical trials are needed to confirm whether these associations reflect a true protective effect.

After years of fast-paced, social-media-driven travel, 2026 is emerging as the year of intentional exploration. A report published February 18 by ALG Vacations found that despite ongoing economic pressures, 100% of surveyed respondents plan to take at least one vacation in the next 12 months, with 97% likely to travel for leisure within six months. Even among budget-constrained travelers, 95% said they would still find a way to take a trip — just with more deliberate choices.

What is changing is the texture of the trip itself. Travelers are moving away from rushed itineraries toward slower, more immersive experiences. Emerging trends include "glowcations" (wellness-focused retreats), literary tourism, and year-round Alpine escapes. Eastern Europe is rising fast among seekers of authentic experiences at accessible prices, with Prague, Sofia, Krakow, Budapest, and Sarajevo among the fastest-growing destinations. On the luxury end, private villas and low-density boutique resorts are redefining what exclusivity means in 2026.

Major sporting events are adding fuel to travel demand: the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo are drawing visitors to the Italian Alps, while the FIFA Men's World Cup — hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico with matches beginning June 11 — is expected to generate a surge of summer travel across North America.

A nationwide survey from restaurant technology company Popmenu reveals that 68% of U.S. consumers are reducing how often they dine out in 2026, with average weekly restaurant spending dropping to approximately $90 — down roughly $25 from June 2025. The pullback is being driven by prolonged inflation, declining consumer confidence, and economic uncertainty that have pushed households to reconsider discretionary spending. The survey covered 1,000 U.S. consumers and 328 restaurant operators.

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, which hit its lowest level in more than a decade in January 2026, is contributing to the cautious mood. When consumers do visit restaurants, they are increasingly trading down — spending less per visit rather than stopping altogether. Affordability and convenience have become the dominant factors in dining decisions, edging out experience and novelty.

Restaurants are responding by doubling down on guest experience: 97% of operators say they are rolling out new dining formats, loyalty incentives, and AI-powered technologies. But costs continue to pressure operators too — 71% plan to raise menu prices in 2026, up from 57% last year. Despite the difficult environment, 63% of restaurant operators describe themselves as cautiously optimistic about the year ahead.