Discovered completely by accident: Is the well-known vaccine the solution to dementia?

Large-scale studies indicate a possible link between the shingles vaccine and a reduction of up to 20% in the risk of dementia, with some studies showing a more pronounced effect in women. The UK reports a surge in demand for the vaccine following the findings, but experts emphasize it is too early to recommend the vaccine specifically for dementia prevention.

Large-scale studies indicate a possible link between the shingles vaccine and a reduction of up to 20% in the risk of dementia, with some studies showing a more pronounced effect in women. A prominent study from Stanford University leveraged a change in vaccination policy in Wales in 2013, allowing a comparison between age-adjacent groups that differed in vaccine eligibility. Over a seven-year follow-up, the eligible group showed a roughly 20% lower rate of new dementia diagnoses. Another study from Oxford University, published in Nature Medicine in 2024, examined over 200,000 people in the US and found that receiving the new Shingrix vaccine was associated with an approximately 17% increase in time without a dementia diagnosis, an average gain of 164 days. The UK reports a surge in demand for the vaccine: Boots pharmacy chain reported a doubling of orders in the past year, and Superdrug reported a 41% increase. However, experts emphasize that these are observational studies, not randomized clinical trials, so a direct causal link cannot be established. In Israel, the Shingrix vaccine is recommended for those aged 50 and over and is included in the health basket for those 65 and over, but it is not given for dementia prevention. The established recommendations for reducing cognitive risk remain physical activity, a balanced diet, and blood pressure control.