Nature

Shingles vaccination linked to reduced dementia risk

April 4, 2025

Herpes zoster vaccination may offer a novel approach to reducing the risk of dementia. Incorporating this vaccine into routine immunization schedules could potentially have a substantial impact on public health by lowering the incidence of dementia in the aging population.

Study details: This study utilized a natural experiment design in Wales to assess the impact of herpes zoster vaccination on dementia diagnoses. Eligibility for the vaccine was based on birthdate, with those born on or after September 2, 1933, being eligible. Researchers analyzed large-scale electronic health record data from these cohorts.

Results: Receiving the herpes zoster vaccine reduced the probability of a new dementia diagnosis over a 7-year follow-up period by 3.5 percentage points, corresponding to a 20.0% relative reduction. The protective effect was stronger among women than men.

Source:

Eyting M, et al. (2025, April 2). Nature. A natural experiment on the effect of herpes zoster vaccination on dementia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40175543/