United States: Health officials have indicated that the vaccine designed to stop shingles pain shows potential effectiveness in protecting cognitive function throughout aging.
More about the news
The research established shingles vaccinations reduced the chances of older adults developing dementia during seven subsequent years by 20 percent.
The new Nature journal report published Wednesday contributes to increasing recognition of multiple variables that shape brain health during elderly years.
According to the lead researcher, Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer of Stanford University, “It’s a very robust finding,” AP News reported.
And “women seem to benefit more,” important as they’re at higher risk of dementia, Geldsetzer noted.
Two perfect candidates for that vaccine,highly recommended for older people. Bill Gates in his late 60s and Klaus Schwab approaching 90…
— Camus (@newstart_2024) April 3, 2025
New study determines shingles vaccine could reduce dementia risk
A new study from Stanford University has determined the shingles vaccine… pic.twitter.com/iL00IHrEjE
Scientists observed Welsh participants above 80 years who took part in the global introduction of shingles vaccination ten years earlier.
Americans who reach age 50 and beyond should now opt for the more successful shingles vaccine, which outperforms the older version.
Research findings provide an additional motive for people to get vaccinated, according to Dr. Maria Nagel, who studies viruses that enter the nervous system at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Furthermore, the virus “is a risk for dementia, and now we have an intervention that can decrease the risk,” as Nagel stated.
With Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia on the rise in an aging population, “the implications of the study are profound,” as per Dr. Anupam Jena, who is a Harvard physician and health economist.
SHINGLES VACCINE MAY SLASH DEMENTIA RISK BY 20%
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 2, 2025
Over 284,000 people in Wales were studied. Those who got the Zostavax vaccine were 1 in 5 less likely to get dementia over the next 7 years.
Researchers used a clever “natural experiment”: a UK policy only gave the vaccine to… pic.twitter.com/PG0sgt0O48
About Shingles
Individuals born before 1980 are expected to sustain the chickenpox virus throughout their lifetime since they experienced the infection.
Shingles develop after chickenpox hides in nerves and becomes active when illness or age weakens the immune system and creates blister-like sores on one side of the body, which stay for weeks.
Statistical data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that shingles will affect one-third of all Americans.
Although recovery from shingles occurs in most cases, it may result in serious medical complications.
Shingles infection leads to vision loss in the affected eyes. On average, between 20% and 30% of shingles patients experience severe nerve pain, which emerges after their skin rash has healed.