Shingles Vaccine Appears to Lower Dementia Risk

Question

This article claims that Zostavax and Shingrix help prevent Dementia. As noted in the study that the article mentioned, there was a 1.8 % less chance of developing dementia after receiving one of these vaccines. Furthermore, those who received the Shingrix vaccine were 18% less likely to develop dementia than those who received the Zostavax vaccine. The study emphasizes that this is not merely coincidence but that the vaccines cause a lesser chance of developing dementia, which confirms this claim to be true!

Answer 1

Recent large-scale studies suggest a link between shingles vaccination and a reduced risk of dementia.  A study published in Nature in April 2025 analyzed health records of over 280,000 older adults in Wales and found that those who received the Zostavax vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years compared to those unvaccinated.  

Further research published in Nature Medicine in July 2024 examined the newer recombinant vaccine, Shingrix.  This study found that individuals who received Shingrix had a 17% longer period without a dementia diagnosis over six years compared to those who received the older Zostavax vaccine.  The effect was more pronounced in women.  

While these findings are encouraging, it's important to note that they show an association rather than a confirmed cause-and-effect relationship.  Researchers emphasize the need for randomized controlled trials to establish a definitive causal link.  Nonetheless, the shingles vaccine is already recommended for adults over 50 to prevent shingles and its complications.  Any potential additional benefit in reducing dementia risk would be an added advantage.

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/03/shingles-vaccination-dementia.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03201-5

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/02/study-finds-strongest-evidence-yet-that-shingles-vaccine-helps-cut-dementia-risk

Comments

Thank you for clarifying that its more correlation that causation, although as you said any addition health benefits are excellent.

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I really liked the way you structured your writing as long as separating the two cases and providing exact numbers from the study! I also appreciated that you put what it would need to make this claim entirely true.

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Your fact check is well-done, and it is clear you have done good research. I appreicate how you included publication dates and study scopes to your fact check, it does add a lot of credibility. I also like how you emphasize the need for more research, which is crucial especially in the medical field.

Answer 2

There have been many recent studies regarding the correlation between taking the shingles vaccine and decreasing risk of dementia because of it. The claim that the shingles vaccinee does in fact help prevent dementia was posted by Zen Yogi who has posted many claims that have come to be on the ground so true. Many different medical clinics have been trying to find cures for dementia, and Standford health has set their focus on finding a correlation between the shingles vaccinee and dementia, stating that 20% of their clinical trial patients were less likely to develop it. National Geographic, a publicly trusted source, has also started to research and has found significant evidence of the correlation. But, with all of these links there is no direct proof that there is a specific link, but only that there is correlation. So, they are related but we cannot guarantee and factually say that the shingles vaccine prevents risk of dementia. 

The shingles vaccine may reduce your dementia risk—here's why

Study strengthens link between shingles vaccine and lower dementia risk ( Standford health study, long history of numerous accurate and reliable reports)

Answer 3

This claim overall seems to be true, but the wording can be seen as exaggerated or misleading. Reputable sources including Stanford Medicine and Nature both published articles on the same subject, and point out there is a relationship between the shingles vaccine and the lowering of dementia, same as WSJ. But it is important to pay attention to the wording within these articles. In the Stanford article, they clarify by using language such as "If further confirmed" and adding points that deter this claim including how "-health records have linked the shingles vaccine with lower dementia rates, but they could not account for a major source of bias: People who are vaccinated also tend to be more health conscious in myriad, different-to-measure ways". The Nature article also makes use of non-confirming language such as "might" and even makes a preface that "-the existing data are limited and only refer to the live vaccine". In conclusion, yes, there is a correlating relationship between the shingles vaccine and dementia risk, but there is still lack/ ongoing research that cannot fully confirm this claim.

Sources:

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/03/shingles-vaccination-dementia.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03201-5