The shingles vaccine, known for preventing the painful rash caused by the virus, may also offer unexpected protection for the brain.
Researchers from Stanford University and Heidelberg University Hospital have found that the shingles vaccine could lower the risk of dementia by up to 20%. This discovery highlights a promising new benefit of a vaccine that is already widely recommended for older adults.
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After recovering from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life, usually after age 50.
When it reactivates, it causes shingles—a rash that usually appears on one side of the body and can be extremely painful. Some people may also experience long-lasting nerve pain after the rash disappears.
Dr. Costi Sifi, an expert in infectious diseases at UVA Health, explains that people aged 50 and over or those with weakened immune systems are eligible for the shingles vaccine, Shingrix.
Even if you don’t remember having chickenpox, you may still have had it as a child. Because most people who think they never had chickenpox actually did, the recommendation is to go ahead and get vaccinated if you’re eligible.
What makes the recent studies so interesting is their focus on the brain. Over a seven-year period, scientists found that people who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia. A follow-up study found that even people already diagnosed with dementia seemed to benefit from the vaccine.
Dr. Sifi called the findings remarkable and believes they offer a new way of thinking about dementia prevention. The idea that a vaccine might help protect the brain opens up new possibilities for future research and prevention strategies.
In addition to vaccination, experts emphasize other proven ways to protect your brain as you age. These include regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol, and eating a balanced diet.
Social connection also plays a big role. Being part of a supportive community, having close relationships, and staying socially active all help protect mental and emotional health.
The research on the shingles vaccine adds an important piece to the puzzle. It suggests that preventing infections like shingles might not just protect your body—it could also protect your brain.
While more studies are needed to fully understand how the shingles vaccine might reduce dementia risk, these early findings are exciting. They remind us that protecting our health as we age can come from many directions—and that prevention, including through vaccination, continues to be a powerful tool.
If you care about brain health , please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more health information, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
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