The shingles vaccine is best known for preventing a painful skin rash, but emerging research suggests it may also help protect the brain. A growing number of studies indicate that vaccination against shingles could lower the risk of dementia, offering another compelling reason for older adults to stay up to date with recommended immunisations.
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the nervous system and can reactivate years later, particularly as the immune system weakens with age.
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Experts believe shingles does more than cause a painful rash. When the virus reactivates, it can trigger widespread inflammation in the nervous system, potentially affecting the brain. According to neurologists, this inflammation contributes to the buildup of amyloid and tau proteins, two hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease. Shingles has also been linked to an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, both of which are known risk factors for cognitive decline.
Rather than acting as a direct treatment for dementia, the shingles vaccine may help by preventing the viral infection and the inflammatory damage it can cause.
Several large studies from different countries have reported a consistent association between shingles vaccination and a lower risk of dementia.
A recent study published in theAnnals of Internal Medicinefound that older adults in the United States nursing facilities who received at least one dose of the shingles vaccine had a 5.8 per cent lower risk of developing dementia over the following four years. Other international studies have reached similar conclusions:
Shingles is linked to an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, both of which are known risk factors for cognitive decline
Health authorities recommend the Shingrix vaccine for adults aged 50 years and older, even if they have previously had shingles, received the older Zostavax vaccine, or were vaccinated against chickenpox.
Shingrix is given as a two-dose series and has been shown to provide strong protection against shingles and its complications, including postherpetic neuralgia—a painful nerve condition that can persist long after the rash disappears.
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