Shingles vaccine linked to 24% lower dementia risk
Researchers found 18.8% of vaccinated residents developed dementia versus 24.6% of unvaccinated peers over four years, suggesting a possible protective effect.
- Researchers led by Kaley Hayes at Brown University found that nursing-facility residents receiving Shingrix had a 24% lower risk of dementia over four years, according to a study published yesterday in Annals of Internal Medicine.
- Using Medicare claims and records, researchers analyzed 509,926 people across more than 5,500 skilled nursing facilities between 2017 and 2022. Target trial emulation compared 8,843 residents who received at least one Shingrix dose against unvaccinated participants.
- After four years, dementia developed in 18.8% of vaccinated participants versus 24.6% of those unvaccinated. "This translates to about one in 17 dementia cases potentially being prevented," Hayes said.
- The findings align with earlier research suggesting shingles vaccines offer neuroprotective benefits beyond preventing shingles. Hayes noted the results fit into a larger puzzle showing vaccines support both physical and cognitive health.
- Researchers cannot definitively confirm Shingrix caused the lower dementia risk because vaccinated participants were younger and healthier. Hayes urged clinical trials to establish causation, and the study received funding from GlaxoSmithKline, which had no control over publication.
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The benefits of the Shingrix vaccine, given in two doses, could be comparable to those of daily treatment with blood pressure medications, say researchers. The current vaccine against the zoster zone seems to significantly reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, according to scientists, who claim that it could contribute to preventing ...
Shingles vaccine linked to 24% lower dementia risk in major US study
The Shingrix shingles vaccine is associated with a 24 per cent reduction in dementia risk among older adults, providing further evidence that immunisation may serve as a shield for the brain, according to a new study from Brown University.Research published yesterday in the Annals of Internal Medicine examined more than half a million individuals residing in skilled nursing facilities across the United States.Scientists saw that over a four-year…
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