Shingles vaccine linked to 24% lower dementia risk
Older adults who received the Shingrix shingles vaccine were 24% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over four years in a study of more than 500,000 people. Researchers estimate the difference could amount to roughly one dementia case prevented for every 17 people vaccinated.
A new study suggests that older adults who received the shingles vaccine were 24% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over four years, compared to those who did not receive the vaccine. The analysis included data from over 500,000 Medicare patients aged 66 and older who were admitted to skilled nursing facilities for short-term or long-term care.
The study found that those who received at least one dose of the Shingrix vaccine, which was introduced in 2017, had a significantly lower dementia rate (18.8%) than unvaccinated participants (24.6%). Researchers, led by Kaley Hayes from Brown University's School of Public Health, noted that the findings are consistent with earlier studies involving an older shingles vaccine.
However, it is unclear whether Shingrix directly reduces dementia risk, as vaccinated patients were generally younger and healthier than unvaccinated participants. Further research, including clinical trials, is needed to confirm the link between shingles vaccination and lower dementia risk. The study was published in Annals of Internal Medicine and was funded by GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Shingrix, although the company had no control over the study design, analysis, or publishing decision.
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- Shingles vaccine linked to 24% lower dementia risk sciencedaily.com
