Shingles Vaccine Linked to Reduced Dementia Risk and Mortality, New Study Finds
Stanford, CA – A new analysis of data from a large-scale vaccination programme in Wales suggests the shingles vaccine may significantly reduce the risk of dementia and lower mortality rates in those diagnosed with the condition. The research, published in Cell, indicates vaccination against shingles was associated with a nearly 30 percent reduction in death risk within nine years.
Researchers found vaccinated participants were also less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment,a common precursor to dementia,and may experiance slower progression of the condition. This builds on previous findings demonstrating the vaccine reduces the overall risk of developing dementia.
“The most exciting part is that this really suggests the shingles vaccine doesn’t have only preventive, delaying benefits for dementia, but also therapeutic potential for those who already have dementia,” said biomedical scientist Pascal Geldsetzer from stanford University.
The study leveraged the serendipitous design of the Welsh vaccination program, but researchers acknowledge the data doesn’t definitively prove cause and effect, only a significant connection warranting further investigation.
Scientists are now exploring potential mechanisms behind the link, focusing on the nervous and immune systems. Viruses affecting the nervous system have been linked to the toxic protein build-up characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease in animal models.
Future research will focus on larger,more diverse populations and the impact of the newer Shingrix vaccine,which replaced the earlier version used in the 2013 welsh program.
“At least investing a subset of our resources into investigating these pathways could lead to breakthroughs in terms of treatment and prevention,” Geldsetzer added.
