This was an unexpected benefit.
Recent research suggests that older adults who receive the latest shingles vaccine might enjoy an unexpected advantage: a significant reduction in their risk of developing dementia.
Dr. Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, praised these findings, stating, “Dementia is not an inevitable part of aging; it results from diseases like Alzheimer’s. Discovering new methods to lower the risk of these diseases is crucial. This research indicates that receiving the Shingrix shingles vaccine may be linked to a reduced risk of dementia.”
The six-year study revealed that individuals who received the newer recombinant shingles vaccines, such as Shingrix, experienced 17% more time without a dementia diagnosis compared to those who had the older live vaccine, Zostavax.
Dr. Scales, who was not involved in the study, commented, “It remains unclear how the vaccine might influence dementia risk or whether the reduction is a direct effect of the vaccine or due to other factors. Further research will be essential to understand this potential impact.”
Published on July 25 in Nature Medicine, the study observed nearly 208,000 individuals in the U.S. who received their first shingles vaccine between 2014 and 2020. About half received the older live vaccine, Zostavax, while the rest were given the newer recombinant vaccine, Shingrix.
The study, led by Maxime Taquet from the University of Oxford, found that those who received Shingrix had an additional 164 days without a dementia diagnosis over the six-year period compared to those who had Zostavax. The benefit appeared slightly greater in women, with about a 9% increase in effectiveness compared to men.
Interestingly, this potential protective effect seemed specific to the shingles vaccine, as other vaccines commonly administered to older adults, such as the flu shot and the Tdap vaccine, did not show similar neurological benefits.
Andrew Doig, a biochemistry professor at the University of Manchester, pointed out that while a connection between the herpes zoster virus, which causes shingles, and dementia has been suspected, the relationship is complex. “Most people infected with the virus do not develop Alzheimer’s, and some individuals who receive the new vaccine still develop Alzheimer’s,” Doig explained.
He noted that while a vaccine alone is unlikely to entirely prevent Alzheimer’s due to various contributing factors like genetics and cardiovascular issues, addressing the herpes zoster virus could be a promising approach in the fight against dementia.
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