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