Shingles vaccination can cut older adults’ risk of developing dementia, study says

The shingles vaccine could decrease dementia risk

Older adults may want to seek out the shingles vaccine if they already haven't.

A "natural experiment" in Wales shows a reduction of the risk of dementia by around 20 percent. Some important questions remain open, however.

Older people who were vaccinated against shingles had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia than those who were not vaccinated, according to a recent study that followed a large number of older people.

New Study Shows Shingles Vaccine Linked To 20% Lower Dementia Risk, GSK Stock Pops - GSK (NYSE:GSK)

Researchers investigated whether the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine can help prevent dementia. Previous studies suggest that certain herpes viruses may contribute to dementia, and vaccines might have immune benefits. The new research, published on Wednesday, Nature analyzed data from 282,541 older adults in Wales and found that people who received the original shingles live virus vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia than non-vaccin…

Major Dementia Discovery: Shingles Vaccine Could Reduce Your Risk by 20%

For decades, researchers have been trying to find a cure for dementia and age-related loss of memory and cognitive decline. Meanwhile, one potential aid may have been hiding in plain sight. A groundbreaking new study published in the journal Nature has just found that getting the shingles vaccine may reduce your risk of developing dementia by 20%.This is some of the strongest evidence that viral infections could contribute to cognitive decline. …

A bonus from the shingles vaccine: Dementia protection?

The study shows a sharp change when the vaccine was introduced in Wales.