A new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests that having shingles may increase the risk of cognitive decline later in life.
The research, published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, found that people who had shingles were about 20% more likely to experience subjective cognitive decline, which includes issues like memory loss and confusion.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus (VZV).
After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains in their body and can reactivate years later as shingles.
This condition often leads to a painful rash and can be quite disabling.
Almost all adults over the age of 50 in the U.S. have been infected with VZV and are at risk for shingles.
There is also growing evidence that herpes viruses, including VZV, might contribute to cognitive decline, which is an early sign of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
Previous research on the connection between shingles and dementia has shown mixed results.
While some studies suggest a link between shingles and a higher risk of dementia, others have found no association.
However, recent studies indicate that getting the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of dementia.
In this new study, researchers analyzed data from three large, long-term studies that followed nearly 150,000 men and women. Participants completed health surveys every two years, reporting on their shingles episodes and any cognitive decline they experienced.
The study found that those who had shingles were significantly more likely to report cognitive decline.
Interestingly, the risk was even higher among men who carry the APOE4 gene, which is known to increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. However, this increased risk was not observed in women with the same gene.
The exact way shingles might contribute to cognitive decline is still unclear. Researchers suggest several possible explanations, including the virus causing inflammation in the brain, damaging nerve cells, or triggering other herpes viruses.
The virus is also linked to vascular disease, which could damage blood vessels in the brain and lead to cognitive problems.
It’s important to note that this study was observational, meaning it relied on self-reported data from a mostly white, well-educated population.
Despite these limitations, the findings highlight the importance of getting the shingles vaccine to potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline, as well as other serious health issues like stroke and heart disease.
The researchers hope to continue studying the links between shingles, vaccination, and long-term health outcomes to help prevent the negative effects of this common virus.
If you care about brain health, please read studies that eating apples and tea could keep dementia at bay, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
For more health information, please see recent studies what you eat together may affect your dementia risk, and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
