Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

A recent study published in Nature reveals that the shingles vaccine may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia. Researchers analyzed a unique situation in Wales, where individuals born on or after Sept. 2, 1933, were eligible for the herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine, while those born just before this date were not. This created a natural experiment, allowing scientists to compare dementia rates between the two groups.​

It is estimated that one in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime, with 80% of cases occurring in individuals aged 50 and above, according to GSK. Shingles is triggered by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which remains dormant in nearly everyone who has previously had chickenpox.

“Vaccination is the most effective strategy, currently capable of preventing at least 16 infectious diseases, including herpes zoster, which affects 99% of adults over 50 who have had chickenpox,” says Gloria Huerta, Senior Medical Manager for Vaccines, GSK Mexico.

Beyond preventing shingles, the study A Natural Experiment on the Effect of Herpes Zoster Vaccination on Dementia suggests that the vaccine may also provide benefits in reducing the risk of dementia.  The findings showed that individuals who received the shingles vaccine had a 20% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia over a seven-year period compared to those who did not receive the vaccine. This translates to a 3.5 percentage point reduction in new dementia cases among the vaccinated group. Interestingly, the protective effect was more pronounced in women than in men.​

To confirm these results, the researchers extended their analysis to include data from both England and Wales, focusing on death certificates where dementia was listed as the primary cause. This secondary analysis supported the initial findings, reinforcing the potential link between shingles vaccination and a reduced risk of dementia.​

In Mexico, an estimated 7.8% of the population has dementia, primarily Alzheimer’s disease, while 4.3% of cases are linked to vascular dementia and 2.1% involve a combination of both.

While these results suggest that the shingles vaccine might have broader benefits beyond preventing shingles, further research is needed to understand the underlying reasons for this association and to explore whether similar vaccines could have comparable effects.​