Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults

A study of more than 509,000 nursing facility residents ages 66 and older found those who received at least one dose of the shingles vaccine had a 5.8 percent lower risk of developing dementia over four years. The research, published June 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined health records from U.S. facilities between 2017 and 2022. The lead author described the protection as robust.

Separate studies in Wales, Australia, and Canada reported similar reductions. Vaccine eligibility was associated with dementia risk drops ranging from 1.8 percent to 3.5 percent over periods of 5.5 to 7.4 years.

Medical directors noted that shingles infection can trigger brain inflammation and accumulation of proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Vaccination prevents the infection, which may reduce those effects. Researchers also observed stronger associations in women than in men. Less than half of eligible U.S. adults 50 and older had received at least one dose as of 2022.