A new study published in Nature suggests that receiving the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of dementia by 20%. The vaccine, which is recommended for adults over 50, has been shown to be highly effective at preventing shingles, a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
Researchers at Stanford University analyzed health records from over 280,000 Welsh adults who did not have dementia at the start of the vaccination program. They found that those who received the shingles vaccine had a significantly lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia in the subsequent seven years compared to those who did not receive the vaccine.
The study’s findings are significant because they provide evidence for a cause-and-effect relationship between shingles vaccination and dementia prevention. The researchers believe that the vaccine may work by reducing reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which can trigger inflammation in the nervous system and contribute to cognitive decline.
While the exact mechanism by which the shingles vaccine protects against dementia is not yet understood, the study’s results are promising. “This research is newsworthy because it shows a possible intervention for preventing or delaying dementia,” says Manisha Parulekar, a geriatrician at Hackensack University Medical Center.
If you’re 50 or older and haven’t yet received your shingles vaccine, Dr. Parulekar recommends getting vaccinated as soon as possible. “Not only can the vaccine protect you from painful symptoms of shingles, but it may also lower your risk of dementia,” she says.
Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a64516416/shingles-vaccine-dementia-risk