Could a vaccine prevent dementia? Shingles shot data only getting stronger.
Ars Technica • • health
Key Points:
- Multiple studies have found that shingles vaccines, particularly the newer Shingrix vaccine, are associated with a significantly reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and may also slow biological aging by lowering inflammation markers.
- Natural experiments in countries like Wales, Australia, and Canada, which compared dementia rates between vaccine-eligible and ineligible groups, consistently showed a 20% or greater reduction in dementia risk among those vaccinated with the shingles vaccine.
- The Shingrix vaccine, which is more effective than the older Zostavax vaccine, appears to offer even greater protection, with some research indicating a 51% lower risk of dementia in vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated controls.
- The exact mechanism behind the vaccine’s protective
