The herpes virus causes both chickenpox and shingles, and recent studies suggest that the shingles vaccine could potentially reduce dementia risk. Previous studies compared dementia outcomes in vaccinated versus unvaccinated groups, though participants’ differing health conditions may have complicated interpretations of these data. In the current study, researchers used a different approach, comparing dementia rates among elderly individuals before and after introducing the recombinant shingles vaccine in the U.S. in 2017.
The new study included more than 207,000 individuals vaccinated against shingles: half received the live vaccine before 2017, and the other half received the recombinant vaccine after 2017. Over six years, those in the recombinant vaccine group demonstrated a 17% lower dementia risk, corresponding to 164 additional days without a dementia diagnosis. This effect remained consistent even after adjusting for age, socioeconomic factors, and underlying health conditions. Additionally, people vaccinated with the recombinant version were 35-36% less likely to experience shingles recurrence.
The recombinant shingles vaccine reduced dementia risk for both women and men, though women showed a 9% higher protective effect. On average, vaccinated women lived 22% longer without a dementia diagnosis, compared to 13% for men.
Both shingles vaccines were associated with a lower dementia risk than the influenza and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccines.
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The recombinant shingles vaccine is associated with lower risk of dementia
