Getting vaccinated against shingles may do more than just protect older adults from a painful skin condition. A new study from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology shows that the shingles vaccine may also help slow down biological aging in people over 70.
The study used data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study and included more than 3,800 participants who were age 70 or older in 2016. Researchers found that those who had received the shingles vaccine aged more slowly on a biological level than those who hadn’t, even after accounting for other factors like age, income, and health status.
The study, titled “Association between shingles vaccination and slower biological aging,” was published in the Journals of Gerontology.
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. It can lead to painful blisters and long-term nerve pain, especially in older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Vaccines for shingles have long been known to prevent the condition and its complications.
But this new research points to a surprising extra benefit: slowing down the body’s aging process. Biological aging is different from simply getting older in years. It reflects how well your organs and systems are functioning. Some 70-year-olds may have the physical health of someone younger, while others may show signs of early aging.
To measure biological aging, the researchers looked at seven key areas: inflammation, immune system strength, cardiovascular health, nerve aging, and how genes behave over time. They found that people who had received the shingles vaccine had lower levels of inflammation, better gene activity patterns, and overall better aging scores.
Lead researcher Jung Ki Kim explained that this kind of inflammation, called “inflammaging,” is a major factor in age-related diseases like heart disease and memory problems. The vaccine may help reduce this inflammation by preventing the virus that causes shingles from reactivating.
The benefits of the vaccine appeared to last for years. People who had received the vaccine four or more years earlier still showed signs of slower aging compared to those who never got the shot.
While vaccines are typically used to prevent specific illnesses, this study adds to growing evidence that vaccines can do more. They might support the body in other ways, like keeping the immune system strong and slowing down aging.
Co-author Eileen Crimmins added that more studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand exactly how vaccines interact with aging. But for now, the shingles vaccine may be one more tool not just for disease prevention, but for promoting healthier aging.
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