A recent study suggests that the shingles vaccine may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia.
Researchers analyzed health records of over 280,000 older adults in Wales and found that those who received the vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years compared to those who did not.
The team took advantage of a public health policy in Wales. People who turned 79 on or after September 1, 2013, were offered the jab, while those already aged 80 missed out. That created a natural comparison between similar groups.
The mechanism behind this protection isn’t fully clear. But scientists believe it might come down to reducing neuroinflammation triggered by the shingles virus, which can lie dormant and reactivate later in life.
These findings build on growing research linking viral infections to cognitive decline. There’s now rising hope that vaccines could help slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases.
Large-scale trials are still needed. But for now, it looks like a routine shot might quietly be doing far more than just preventing a rash.
