A new study suggests that the shingles vaccine, known for preventing the painful viral infection, may also slow the progression of dementia. Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, affects about one in three people in the United States during their lifetime. The risk of shingles and its complications increases with age, leading to the recommendation of a two-dose vaccine for adults aged 50 and older.
The study, published in the journal Cell, indicates that the shingles vaccine could have therapeutic properties against dementia. Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University and the study’s senior author, explained that the vaccine might reduce the risk of dying from dementia. “We see an effect on your probability of dying from dementia among those who already have dementia,” Geldsetzer said.
The research analyzed health records of older adults in Wales, where a shingles vaccination program was introduced in 2013. The study found that receiving the vaccine reduced the probability of being newly diagnosed with dementia by 3.5 percentage points over seven years. In addition, the vaccine appeared to reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment and death due to dementia among vaccinated individuals.
Similar results were observed in Australia, where a comparable vaccination program exists. The findings suggest that the vaccine may protect cognition from early to late stages of dementia.
While the study highlights a potential link between the shingles vaccine and dementia outcomes, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Geldsetzer theorizes that reducing inflammation in the nervous system or boosting the immune system could play a role. Further research, including randomized clinical trials, is planned to confirm these findings.
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